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LIBERIA'S  OFFERING 


BEING 


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NEW-YORK : 

JOHN    A.    GRAY,    PRINTER,   STEREOTYPER,   AND    BINDER, 

FIRE-PROOF     BUILDINGS, 

CORNER  OF  FRANKFORT   AND  JACOB   STREETS. 
1862. 


HOPE    FOR   AFBICA 

A    DISCOURSE 


DELIVERED    IN    THE    PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH,    SEVENTH    AVENUE,    NEW-TORK, 

JULY    21,    1S61. 


INTEODUC'TION. 


The  contents  of  this  volume  will  have  nothing  of  the  interest 
connected  with  travels  or  descriptive  scenery.  They  are  chiefly 
essays  prepared  for  special  occasions,  exjDressive  of  the  Author's 
^iews  of  the  rights,  duties,  and  hopes  of  the  African  race. 

This  small  contribution  to  the  literary  wealth  of  Liberia,  has 
been  made  in  the  hope  of  thus  attracting  to  the  Liberia  College, 
in  Avhich  the  Author  is  a  Professor,  the  favor  of  some  who  may 
have  leisure  and  curiosity  to  examine  it. 

The  prosjject  of  Africa's  futiire  civilization,  and  of  her  taking 
rank  among  the  advanced  countries  of  the  world,  thus  vindicating 
the  ^oneness  of  origin  from  the  first  Adam,  and  of  interest  in  the 
second  Adam,  may  well  stimulate  all  her  children  to  the  boldest 
eflbrts. 

The  Author  in  putting  forth  this  small  volume,  feels  assured  that 
he  has  been  actuated  more  by  a  desire  to  contribute  something  to 
the  credit  of  the  African  race,  to  which  he  entirely  belongs,  and  of 
the  Republic  of  Liberia,  with  which,  from  choice,  after  twelve 
years'  residence,  he  is  fully  identified,  than  by  any  vanity  of  ap- 
pearing as  an  author.  At  the  earnest  suggestion  of  friends,  to 
whose  judgment  he  reluctantly  defers,  he  introduces  "Liberia's 
OfferijvG  "  with  the  following:  brief 


■■o 


My  native  place  is  St.  Thomas,  one  of  the  Danish  West-India 
Islands,  where  I  was  born  August  3,  1832.  I  was  blest  with  the 
care  of  pious  parents.  To  the  influence  of  my  excellent  and  de- 
voted mother,  who  is  still  alive,  more  than  to  any  other  earthly 
cause,  can  I  trace  whatever  literary  tastes  and  religious  aspirations 
I  possess. 

In  1842,  my  father  removed  his  family  to  Porto  Cabello,  Vene- 
zuela, and  remained  two  years,  returning  to  St.  Thomas,  in  1844. 
While  residing  in  Venezuela,  I  learned  to  speak  the  Spanish 
language. 


u 

On  my  return  to  St.  Tliomas,  I  Avas  apiirenticed  to  the  tailoring 
business,  Avitli  a  provision  allowing  me  to  attend  school  in  the 
morning  and  the  shop  in  the  afternoon,  and  so  continued  for  five 
years. 

In  1845,  Kev.  John  P.  Knox,  now  jxastor  of  a  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Newtown,  Long  Island,  came  to  St.  Thomas  and  took 
charge  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church.  With  others  of  my  com- 
panions I  became  a  member  of  a  Bible-class  under  his  instruction, 
and  thus  was  formed  a  friendship  which  Avas  of  groat  benefit  to 
me,  and  gave  a  turn  to  all  my  life.  I  was  fond  of  composition 
and  often  indulged  myself  in  attempts  in  that  way.  I  was  accus- 
tomed to  take  copious  notes  of  his  sermons,  which  especially  at- 
tracted his  attention,  and  led  him  to  encourage  me  to  prepare  for 
the  ministry,  after  I  had  formally  joined  his  church,  in  which  I 
had  been  baj^tized  and  brought  uj:). 

In  1850,  when  Mrs.  Knox  was  about  to  return  to  the  United 
States  he  encouraged  me  to  come  also,  with  the  hope  of  securing 
for  me  admission  to  one  of  the  colleges  in  this  country.  I  found, 
howevei',  the  deep-seated  prejudice  against  my  race,  exercising  so 
controlling  an  mfluence  in  the  institutions  of  learning,  that  admis- 
sion to  them  was  almost  impossible. 

Discouraged  by  the  difticulties  in  my  path,  I  j^roposed  to  return 
to  St.  Thomas,  and  abandon  the  hope  of  an  education,  when  I  re- 
ceived from  Mrs.  Knox  a  letter  so  full  of  interest  in  my  welfare, 
and  so  urgent  that  I  should  still  strive  to  become  fitted  for  useful- 
ness in  the  Christian  ministry,  and  render  my  life  useful  to  Africa, 
that  I  relinquished  my  jjurpose  of  returning  to  my  parents.  I 
decided  to  accept  of  the  offer  of  the  New-York  Colonization  So- 
ciety to  furnish  me  a  passage  to  Liberia,  in  hopes  to  enjoy  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  Alexander  High  School,  then  beginning  its  noble 
work,  at  Monrovia,  the  capital  of  the  Republic. 

By  the  Liberia  j)acket  from  Baltimore,  December  21,  1850,  I 
was  safely  conveyed  to  the  continent  of  my  fathers  and  my  race, 
reaching  Monrovia,  January  26,  1851.  Arriving  in  Liberia,  an 
entire  stranger,  without  a  single  letter  of  introduction,  I  was  re- 
ceived with  great  kindness  by  the  people.  Especially  do  I  re- 
member the  cordial  Avelcome  and  hospitable  treatment  extended 
to  me  by  Mr.  B.  V.  R.  James  and  his  family.  r 

After  a  slight  acclimation,  I  was,  by  the  kindness  of  the  Presby- 
terian Missionary  Board,  accepted  as  a  student  in  the  Alexander 
High  School  under  charge  of  Rev.  David  A.  Wilson,  who  care- 


Ill 

fully  instructed  me  and  others  of  my  class-mates  in  Latin  and 
Greek,  as  well  as  the  usual  lessons  in  Geography  and  Mathemat- 
ics. The  Hebrew  language,  not  being  embraced  in  the  course  of 
studies  in  the  Alexander  High  School,  I  took  up  the  study  of  it 
myself,  and  devoted  for  some  time  all  my  leisure  hours  to  it ;  being 
anxious  to  read  the  entire  Scriptures  in  the  original  languages,  es- 
pecially those  passages  of  the  Old  Testament  which  have  refer- 
ence to  the  African  race. 

Three  years  after  my  admission  to  the  school,  during  a  \'isit  for 
his  health  which  Mr.  Wilson  made  to  the  United  States,  I  was 
placed  in  charge  of  some  of  the  classes.  While  thus  engaged  in 
my  first  efibrts  at  teaching,  I  was  appointed  by  President  Roberts, 
Editor  of  the  Liberia  Herald^  which,  without  allowing  it  to  inter- 
fere with  my  duties  in  the  school,  I  conducted  for  one  year. 

After  the  return  of  Mr.  Wilson,  I  continued  to  assist  him  from 
time  to  time  as  his  health  seemed  to  require  it;  and,  in  1858,  on 
his  retirement,  on  account  of  the  illness  of  his  family,  I  was  placed 
hi  full  charge  of  the  Alexander  High  School,  where  I  continued 
teaching  untU  1861,  when  I  was_elected  Professor  of  Greek  and 
Latin  in  Liberia  College. 

It  was  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Knox  in  St.  Thomas, 
that  I  made  a  profession  of  religion.  Ever  looking  forward  to  the 
ministry,  I  was  finally,  after  the  usual  examinations,  licensed  and 
ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  West-Africa,  in  the  year  1858. 

Li  the  early  part  of  1861,  in  order  to  recruit  my  impaired 
health,  I  made  a  visit  to  England  and  Scotland ;  thence  I  went  to 
Canada,  visited  Niagara  Falls,  and  spent  a  few  weeks  in  the 
United  States.  While  in  England  I  was  privileged  to  form  the 
personal  acquaintance  of  Lord  Brougham,  to  whom  I  had  the 
honor  of  presenting  a  walking-cane  on  behalf  of  the  young  men 
of  Liberia;  of  Right  Honorable  W.  E.  Gladstone,  and  Rev.  Henry 
Melvill,  Principal  of  East-India  College.  With  these  gentlemen 
I  had  previously  been  in  correspondence  from  Liberia.  I  was  also 
shown  great  hospitality  and  kindness  by  Samuel  Gurney,  Esq., 
M.P.,  Gerard  Ralston,  Esq.,  and  Thomas  Hodgkin,  M.D.,  of 
London,  and  by  Rev.  Drs.  Guthrie  and  Johnston,  of  Edinburgh. 
By  the  last-named  gentleman  I  had  the  honor  of  being  presented 
to  the  United  Presbyterian  Synod,  then  in  session  m  Edinburgh, 
at  the  same  time  that  Rev.  Dr.  George  B.  Cheever  of  New-York 
City  was  introduced. 

The  Presbytery  of  West-Africa  during  their  session,  December, 


1860,  elected  me  their  Commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  (O.  S.,)  in  the  United  States,  which  met 
in  the  city  of  Piiiladelphia,  in  May,  1861,  but  my  delay  in  Europe  ' 
prevented  my  enjoying  the  privilege  of  being  the  first  black  repre- 
sentative from  Africa  in  that  distinguished  body. 

Returning  to  Liberia  in  the  autumn  of  the  year,  I  was  induced 
to  accept  the  appointment  from  the  Government,  as  Commissioner 
to  the  descendants  of  Africa  in  the  United  States  and  the  West- 
Indies,  to  give  information  of  Liberia,  and  invite  them  to  a  home 
in  that- country.  Li  the  prosecution  of  this  mission,  I  arrived  in 
this  country,  via  England,  in  the  month  of  May  last. 

The  reader  will  see  in  tliis  brief  record,  the  kind  leadings  of 
that  Providence  which,  from  an  obscure  condition,  in  a  distant 
island,  has  taken  me  on  to  my  present  position,  without  any  special 
merit  of  my  own.  Friends  and  helpers  have  arisen  in  all  mj'- 
path,  to  all  of  whom  I  am  a  debtor  for  unmerited  kindness,  and 
whom  I  shall  not  cease  to  remember  with  gratitude  while  life  lasts- 

I  ought  not  to  close  without  adding  a  few  words  about  ray  home 
in  Africa.  After  twelve  years'  residence  there,  I  have  this  summer 
made  a  filial  visit  to  my  aged  mother,  to  feel  once  more  her  warm 
embrace.  I  found  a  most  cordial  welcome  and  unexpected  honors 
among  my  former  friends.  The  New  -York  Colonization  Journal 
for  October  makes  the  following  note  of  my  visit  to  St.  Thomas : 

HONORED    AT    HIS    HOME. 

TVe  loarn  that  Professor  Blyden,  of  the  Liberia  College,  who  is  a  native 
of  St.  Thomas,  and,  after  an  absence  of  twelve  years  in  Liberia,  has  this 
summer  been  to  visit  his  mother  and  friends,  was  received  with  very  great 
respect  and  kindness.  lie  filled  the  pulpit  of  the  Dutch  Church  at  St. 
Thomas,  frequently,  and  always  had  crowded  audiences. 

His  oflBcial  character  as  a  Commissioner  of  Liberia,  to  make  known  the 
advantages  for  honor  and  usefulness  which  that  Republic  presented,  en- 
hanced the  interest  with  which  his  modest  circular,  setting  forth  with 
brevity  the  facts  in  the  case,  was  received.  Hundreds  there  and  in  the 
Tortugas  Islands  expressed  a  desire  to  emigrate  to  Liberia,  to  participate 
in  its  privileges,  and  partake  of  its  noble  duties  toward  Afi'ica.  A  few 
were  so  much  in  earnest  as  to  start  at  once.  We  proposed  to  quote  sev- 
eral articles  from  the  St.  Thomas  Tidoide,  but  the  papers  have  been  bor- 
rowed and  not  returned  in  time.  The  young  men  of  St.  Thomas  made  a 
fund,  and  publicly  presented  Mr.  Blyden  with  a  tangible  evidence  of  their 
regard,  in  the  form  of  a  silver  flower-vase  and  plate,  and  other  useful  ar- 
ticles, of  which  we  find  the  following  brief  notice  in  the  Tidende,  August 
23d: 


V 


TESTIMONIAL   TO   REV.   E.    AV.    BLYDEN. 


"  "We  learn  that  on  the  evening  of  the  twenty-second  instant,  a  deputation 
of  gentlemen  waited  on  Rev.  Edward  "W.  Blyden,  at  his  residence,  and 
presented  to  him,  on  behalf  of  a  large  number  of  his  fellow-townsmen,  a 
very  valuable  testimonial,  accompanied  with  a  beautifully  written  address, 
expressive  of  the  great  pleasure  which  his  visit  to  his  native  land  has  gen- 
erally afforded,  and  of  the  warm  appreciation  felt  by  his  countrymen  of  his 
efforts  in  the  sacred  cause  of  Africa's  evangelization  and  regeneration.  We 
trust  that  the  presence  in  our  town  of  the  reverend  gentleman  may  act  as 
a  stimulus  upon  his  former  associates  and  acquaintances,  urging  them  to 
attempt  great  things  for  the  outraged  land  with  whose  interests  he  has 
identified  himself,  and  which  is  now  attracting  so  largely  the  attention  of 
the  civilized  world.  It  is  gratifying  to  us  to  know  that  our  little  Island 
has  furnished  one  to  take  a  part  in  the  great  work  of  opening  Africa  to 
civilization,  to  which  savans  and  philanthi'opists  are  hastening  from  Europe 
and  America  to  devote  themselves." 

A  society  was  formed  called  the  "  St.  Thomas  Liberia  Association," 
composed  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  the  island,  who  at  once  raised  a 
fund  and  forwarded  to  the  United  States  fifty  dollars,  to  purchase  map^ 
books,  and  periodicals  concerning  Liberia.  It  must  be  most  gratifying  to 
Professor  Blyden  to  receive  such  tokens  of  hearty  good-will  and  high  ap- 
.  preciation  from  the  people  of  his  early  home. 

My  heart  is  in  tiiberia,  and  longs  for  the  welfare  of  Africa.-  An 
African  nationality  is  the  great  desire  of  my  soul.  I  believe  na- 
tionality to  be  an  ordinance  of  nature ;  and  no  people  can  rise  to 
an  influential  position  among  the  nations  without  a  distinct  and 
efiicient  nationality.  Cosmopolitism  has  never  effected  any  thing, 
and  never  will,  perhaj)s,  till  the  millennium.  God  has  "  made  of 
one  blood  all  nations  of  men,"  but  lie  has  also  "  determined  the 
bounds  of  their  habitation," 

Liberia  is  a  beautiful  tropical  country,  teeming  with  the  rich 
fruits  of  a  peri^etiial  summer,  with  mountains  and  valleys,  and 
rivers  and  brooks,  "  well-watered  every  where  as  the  garden  of 
the  Lord."     Li  all  these  respects  she  can  scarcely  be  surpassed. 

Her  civil,  political,  religious  and  social  advantages,  however,  are 
her  chief  attraction.  ISTo  community  can  have  more  perfect  reli- 
gious liberty.  Republican  government  is  nowhere  more  thor- 
oughly carried  out.  No  social  disadvantage  is  felt  by  any  descend- 
ant of  Africa  on  account  of  color.  The  moment  a  colored  man 
from  America  lands  in  Liberia,  he  finds  the  galUng  chains  of  caste 
falling  from  his  soul,  and  he  can  stand  erect,  and  feel  and  realize 
that  he  is  indeed  a  man. 

For  myself  and  children  I  desire  no  wider  field  of  labor  and  no 
greater  privileges  than  I  enjoy  in  that  country.     And  could  my 


VI 

k 

voice  reach  every  cTescendant  of  Africa  in  America,  I  -woukl  say 
to  him  :  "  Come  away  from  the  land  of  caste  and  oppression,  to 
the  freedom  of  our  young  Republic !"  Come  help  us  build  up  a 
Nationality  in  Africa. 

The  reader,  I  trust,  will  pardon  the  seeming  egotism  of  this 
narrative,  inseparable  from  the  very  nature  of  the  composition, 
and  be  lenient  to  this  "  Offering  "  from  Liberia. 

Edward  W.  Bltdex. 

Mio-Toi-A;  October  21,  1862. 


COISTTENTS 


PAGE 

1.  HOPE  FOR  AFRICA, .         .4 

2.  VINDICATION  OF   THE   AFRICAN  RACE,      .        .        .        .        .         81 

3.  THE   CALL   OF    PROVIDENCE,   ETC.,         .         .        '.        .        .         .67 

4.  INAUGURAL  ADDRESS  AT   THE   INAUGURATION   OF    LIBERIA 

COLLEGE, 95 

5.  EULOGY  ON   REV.   JOHN   DAY, 127 

ti.  A  CHAPTER  IN  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  SLAVE-TRADE,  151 


o    ^ 


w  i  " 


:g</ 


HOPE    FOR   AFRICA. 


"  Ethiopia  shall  soon  stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God." — Psalm  68 :  31. 

The  continent  of  Africa  occupies  an  important  geo- 
graphical position.  It  lies  between  two  great  oceans 
— tlie  liighways  of  tlie  principal  portions  of  commerce. 
It  contains  twelve  millions  of  square  miles,  witli  a  pop- 
ulation of  one  liunclred  and  sixty  millions.  But,  not- 
withstanding its  physical  and  relative  importance,  it 
has  lain,  until  a  comparatively  recent  period,  shrouded 
from  the  view  of  the  inhabitants  of  other  portions  of 
the  earth. 

While  the  spirit  of  adventure  has  opened  up  the 
most  uninviting  parts  of  Europe  ;  while  Asia,  with  its 
impenetrable  jungle  and  ferocious  animals,  has  been 
traversed  from  one  end  to  the  other ;  while  the  ancient 
and  mighty  forests  of  America  have  fallen  before  the 
power  of  enterprise  and  the  charm  of  civilization — the 
highest  peak  of  the  Kocky  Mountains  scaled,  the  Andes 
and  the  Cordilleras  measured ;  while  the  distant  isles 
of  the  sea  have  been  visited  and  occupied  by  intelli- 
gence, industry,  and  enterprise;  while  the  cold  and 
barren,  and  almost  inaccessible  regions  of  the  earth 
have  been  approached  and  explored  as  far  as  human 
beings  are  found — Africa,  lying  in  the  very  pathway 
of  commerce,  offering  as  many  inducements  to  the 
seekers  after  scientific  knowledge  as  any  other  land, 
presenting  as  numerous  objects  for  the  labors  of  the 


6  Liberia's  offering. 

pliilautliropist  as  any  otlier  country,  Las  been  passed 
by  by  tlie  traveler  and  tlie  pliilantliropist,  and  the 
civilized  world  has  been  left  to  entertain  at  best  but 
the  most  vague  and  unsatisfactory  conjectures  as  to  the 
character  of  the  country,  and  the  condition  of  its  in- 
habitants. 

To  the  majority  of  civilized  and  enlightened  men, 
Africa  is  hardly  ever  made  a  subject  of  earnest  thought. 
Various  interests  of  more  immediate  concern  crowd  out 
thoughts  of  a  land  which  is  spoken  of,  perhaps,  only 
when  instances  of  degradation,  ignorance,  and  super- 
stition are  refeiTed  to.  The  other  portion  of  the  ci^dl- 
ized  world,  who  think  and  speak  of  Afiica,  are  divided 
in  theii'  views  and  feelings  with  regard  to  that  land,  and 
in  the  motives  which  actuate  them  to  be  at  all  interest- 
ed. Some  regard  it  as  a  place  with  which  a  lucrative 
trade  may  be  "  driven ;"  where  the  articles  of  commerce, 
palm-oil,  cam-wood,  ivory,  and  otlier  rare  productions 
may  be  obtained.  These  speak  of  Africa  only  in  con- 
nection with  these  thins-s.  All  their  interests  in  the 
land  are  of  a  commercial  nature.  Others,  with  souls 
more  sordid  and  hearts  more  avaricious,  who  are  never 
once  troubled  by  any  sentiment  of  humanity,  are  in- 
terested in  Afi'ica  only  as  a  scene  for  plunder  and  car- 
nage. From  these,  Africa  has  had  the  most  frequent 
and  the  most  constant  visits,  during  the  last  three  cen- 
turies. They  have  spread  all  along  the  coast  of  that 
peninsula — formerly  the  abode  of  peace  and  plenty,  of 
industiy  and  love  —  "arrows,  fii'ebrands,  and  death." 
In  theii-  pursuit  of  blood  —  "not  beasts'  but  human 
gore"  —  they  have  scattered  desolation,  and  misery, 
and  degi'adation  into  all  parts  of  the  land  whither  they 
have  had  access ;  so  that  not  unfi^equently  has  it  occur- 
red that  some  unfortunate  and  lonely  sufferer,  standing 


Liberia's  offering. 


amid  a  scene  of  desolation,  having  escaped  tlie  cruel 
chase  of  the  slaver,  whose  ruthless  hands  have  borne 
away  his  relatives  and  acquaintances,  has  earnestly 
cursed  civilization,  and  has  solemnly  prayed,  as  he  has 
stood  surveying  the  melancholy  relics  of  his  home,  that 
an  insurmountable  and  impenetrable  barrier — some 
wall  of  mountain  height — might  be  erected  between 
his  country  and  all  dualized  nations. 

Only  a  few,  very  few,  have  regarded  Africa  as  a  laud 
inhabited  by  human  beings,  children  of  the  same  com- 
mon Father,  travelers  to  the  same  judgment-seat  of 
Christ,  and  heirs  of  the  same  awful  immortality.  These 
few  have  endeavored  to  hold  up  that  land  as  the  object 
of  the  sympathy,  the  labors,  and  the  prayers  of  the 
Christian  world.  They  have  held  her  up  as  the  victim 
of  unfortunate  circumstances,  which  have  operated 
against  her  progress,  and  prevented  her  from  keeping- 
pace,  in  the  march  of  human  improvement,  with  other 
and  more  favored  portions  of  the  earth.  These  few 
have  endeavored,  and  are  now  endeavoring  to  awaken 
a  deeper  interest  in  that  land.  Through  their  noble 
efforts,  that  forgotten  country  is  becoming  better 
kno^vn.  Its  inhabitants  are  receiving  more  of  the 
sympathy  of  the  enlightened  portion  of  mankind;  and 
efforts  are  making  to  introduce  among  them  the  bless- 
ings of  civilization  and  Christianity — to  accelerate  the 
day  when  "  Ethiopia  shall  stretch  out  her  hands  unto 
God." 

But  there  are  adversaries.  There  are  those  who  have 
no  sympathy  to  bestow  upon  the  African.  His  com- 
plexion and  hair  fm^nish  to  them  conclusive  reasons  why 
he  should  be  excluded  from  their  benevolence.  They 
msh  nothing  to  do  with  him.  Their  charities,  when 
the  negro  is  mentioned,  immediately  contract.     Their 


8  Liberia's  offerixg. 

Christian  love  is  ample  enougli  to  embrace  all  Europe, 
and  other  countries  inhabited  by  the  Caucasian,  but  it 
can  go  no  further.  Upon  other  branches  of  the  human 
family  they  look  do'wn  with  arrogance  and  contempt.' 
And  such  persons  may  be  found  in  enlightened  coun- 
tries, professing  Christianity,  and  priding  themselves  on 
their  civilization  and  culture.  But  do  not  such  feelings 
prove  them  to  be  connected  rather  closely  with  those 
remote  asres  when  the  extent  of  one's  clan  or  tribe  or 
district  formed  the  limit  of  all  his  benevolent  oj^er- 
ations?  Does  not  their  conduct  constantly  remind 
those  who  meet  them  of  their  intimate  relations  with 
the  barbarous  past  ?  Are  they  not  sadly  deficient  of 
that  magnanimous  and  noble  liberality  which  Christ- 
ianity seeks  to  inspire,  when  it  declares  that  of  "  one 
blood  God  hath  made  aU  the  Qmtions  of  the  earth"  ? 

There  are  others,  who  believe,  or  affect  to  believe, 
that  this  people  are  doomed  to  degradation  and  serv- 
itude ;  that  the  malediction  uttered  by  Noah — evidently 
ao-ainst  the  descendants  of  Canaan,  and  which  has  lono; 
since  received  its  fulfillment — follows  the  African  race ; 
and  that  therefore  all  efforts  to  elevate  them  will  be  un- 
availing. Yet  some  of  these  persons  profess  to  believe 
in  the  regenerating  and  elevating  power  of  the  Grospel. 
They  will  declaim  long  and  loudly,  upon  the  efficiency 
of  Christianity  to  redeem  and  dignify  man — to  spread, 
wherever  it  goes,  light  and  liberty,  and  the  blessings  of 
an  exalted  civilization.  But,  in  their  minds,  Africa 
seems  to  form  an  exception.  The  promises  in  the  Bible 
of  the  universal  prevalence  of  righteousness  and  truth, 
are  not  far-reaching  enough  to  affect  her  case.  The 
ignorance,  degradation,  and  misery  of  the  land  are  so 
deep  and  revolting,  as  to  baffle  the  recuperative  power 
of  the  Gosj)el. 


Liberia's  offering.  9 

But  the  Lord,  whose  ways  are  not  as  our  ways,  and 
whose  thoughts  are  not  as  our  thoughts,  has  declared 
that  the  earth  shall  be  filled  with  his  knowledge,  as  the 
waters  cover  the  sea.  Grlorions  truth  !  The  salvation 
which  Christ  has  purchased  for  us  is  a  "  common  salva- 
tion." It  is  confined  neither  to  countries  nor  races.  It 
knows  no  limits.  All  complexions,  all  classes  and  con- 
ditions are  equally  within  the  sphere  of  its  operation. 
"  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,"  said  the  Divine  Author  of 
the  salvation,  "and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  crea- 
ture." Its  applicability  is  universal.  All  the  accessible 
dominions  of  the  world  may  be  blessed  by  it.  It  will 
rectify  all  disorder,  banish  every  vice,  loose  every  bond, 
and  having  eradicated  the  causes  of  all  the  sins  and  sor- 
rows and  sufferings  of  the  human  family,  it  will  spread 
righteousness  and  truth,  harmony  and  peace,  liberty 
and  love,  over  the  whole  face  of  this  sin-stricken  globe. 
These  are  the  glorious  and  wide-spread  results  which 
Christianity  promises  to  achieve.  And  who  will  dare 
to  say  that  Africa  will  not  particijDate  in  these  general 
blessings  ?  Who  will  dare  to  affirm  that  Africa  will 
remain  in  her  gloom,  when  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall 
have  filled  the  whole  earth  ? 

But  if  these  promises  be  considered  too  general,  there 
are  passages  in  the  word  of  God,  there  are  promises 
and  types  which  have  special  reference  to  Africa. 
"  Behold  Philistia  and  Tyi^e,  with  Ethiopia ;  this  man 
was  born  there.  The  labor  of  Egyj^t,  and  merchandise 
of  Ethiopia  and  of  the  Sabeans,  men  of  stature,  shall 
come  over  unto  thee,  and  they  shall  be  thine."  And 
the  words  of  the  text :  "  Princes  shall  come  out  of 
Egypt.  Ethiopia  shall  soon  stretch  out  her  hands  unto 
God."  No  one  that  remembers  the  reference  in  the 
Scripture  to  the  skin  of  the  Ethiopian,  will  doubt  that 


10  Liberia's  offering. 

these  prophecies  belong  to  the  negro.  We  see  the 
eunuch  of  Candace,  queen  of  the  Ethiopians,  going  on 
his  way  rejoicing,  because  believing  in  Jesus ;  and  we 
seem  to  have  a  pledge  of  Africa's  evangelization. 
When  the  wicked  Herod  was  plotting  the  murder  of 
the  infant  Redeemer  of  mankind,  an  angel  appeared 
to  Joseph  in  a  dream,  and  said,  "  Arise,  and  take  the 
young  child  and  his  mother,  and  flee  into  the  land  of 
Egypt'' — into  the  land  of  Egypt^  in  Africa.  Africa,  in 
the  providence  of  God,  according  to  the  declarations  of 
prophecy,  was  the  land  chosen  to  shelter  the  Saviour 
of  the  world.  If,  in  the  hour  of  his  danger,  Africa  was 
the  chosen  asylum  from  the  cruelty  of  his  royal  enemy ; 
if,  in  the  hour  of  his  affliction,  he  sought  a  refuge  in 
that  land,  will  he  not  now,  in  the  day  of  Ji&i'  trial  and 
lier  affliction,  remember  her  ?  Was  not  his  flight  to, 
and  sojourn  in  that  land,  a  token  of  his  favor  ?  Driven 
from  Asia,  the  land  of  his  birth,  from  among  his  own 
people,  that  land,  now  down-trodden,  gave  him  wel- 
come. And  if  it  be  true  that  to  as  many  as  received 
him,  he  gave  power  to  become  the  sons  of  God,  may 
not  Africa,  though  she  did  not  then  receive  him  in  that 
higher  and  more  spiritual  sense,  exj^ect  to  share  in  the 
privilege  of  becoming  a  child  of  God  ?  Will  he  not 
yet,  in  his  might,  as  King  of  kings,  and  Lord  of  lords, 
gird  on  his  sword,  and  ride  through  that  land,  conquer- 
ing and  to  conquer  %  Will  he  not  overturn,  as  he  is 
abeady  beginning  to  do,  and  overturn  and  overturn, 
until  he  establish  his  kingdom  there  ?  Yes ;  we  take 
it,  that  as  he  suffered  in  Africa,  in  the  days  of  his  hu- 
miliation, he  will  yet  reign  in  that  land  in  his  glory. 

But  there  is  an  ampler  prophecy  still — a  more  ex- 
press type :  "  Let  us  go,"  to  quote  the  language  of  Mr. 
Melvill,  "  and  look  on  the  Redeemer  as  he  toils  towards 


Liberia's  offering.  11 

Calvary.  Who  is  it  that,  in  tlie  ordering  of  Provi- 
dence, has  been  appointed  to  carry  his  cross  ?  A  Cyre- 
nian,  an  African.  As  Africa  had  something  to  do  with 
his  earlier  days,  so  she  has  to  do  with  his  final  hours. 
'And  as  they  came  out,  they  found  a  man  of  Cyrene, 
Simon  by  name :  him  they  compelled  to  bear  his  cross.' 
We  read  the  prophecy  ;  we  apprehend  the  type.  Not 
without  meanino:  was  one  of  the  sons  of  Africa  selected 
to  bear  the  cross  after  Christ,  and  thus  to  fill  a  post  to 
which  the  martyrs  and  confessors  of  every  age  of  Christ- 
ianity have  counted  it  their  highest  honor  to  succeed. 
It  was  as  though  to  tell  us  that  even  Africa  shall  yet 
be  brought  to  the  discipleshii^  of  Jesus.  Europe  gave 
not  this  type  of  the  Gentile  world  submitting  to  Christ. 
Asia  was  not  permitted  to  own  the  favored  individual. 
America,  as  yet  UDkuown  to  the  rest  of  the  earth,  might 
not  send  the  representative  of  heathenism.  Africa  is 
the  privileged  country ;  an  African  follows  Jesus.  Oh ! 
the  darkness  of  many  generations  seems  scattered ;  and 
I  rejoice  in  the  assurance  that  the  land  of  slaves  shall 
be  the  home  of  freedom,  the  land  of  misery  the  home 
of  happiness,  the  land  of  idolatry  the  home  of  Christ- 
ianity."* 

Some  have  been  inclined  to  resrard  Afnca  as  a 
doomed  land,  on  account  of  the  protracted  night  which 
has  hung  over  it.  Empires  have  arisen  and  fallen ;  the 
arts  and  sciences  have  been  born,  fostered,  grown  up  to 
strength  and  maturity  in  other  lands,  while  Africa  re- 
mains in  its  primitive  simplicity  and  barbarism,  con- 
tributing nothing  to  the  well-being  of  mankind.  From 
this  fact,  it  has  been  argued  that  there  is  a  natural  and 
iu\T,ncible  incapacity  for  improvement  in  the  race,  for- 
bidding all  hope  of  their  ever  becoming  a  power  in  the 

*  Melvill's  Sermons,  vol.  ii.     1850. 


12  Liberia's  offering. 

world.  Tliis  were  a  correct  inference,  if  it  could  be 
sliown  tliat  Africans  liave  liad  equal  facilities  for  im- 
provement Tritli  those  races  wliicli  have  made  such 
rapid  strides  in  civilization,  or  if  it  could  be  shown 
that  any  people  precisely  in  their  circumstances  have 
made  any  marked  advancement.  The  negi'o  has  been 
inhabiting  a  country  by  whose  physical  peculiarities  he 
has  been  deprived  of  the  intercourse  of  the  civilized 
and  enlightened  world. 

This  land,  for  wise  purposes  doubtless,  is  rendered 
inaccessible  to  foreigners,  by  fevers  produced  by  the  ex- 
halations arising  from  the  marshy  alluvial  lands,  which 
border  all  the  intertropical  regions ;  it  has,  therefore, 
been  shut  out  for  the  most  j^art,  from  the  means  of  im- 
provement. Men  talk  selfishly  and  scornfully  of  the 
long-continued  barbarism  and  degradation  of  Africa,  as 
if  civilization  were  indigenous  to  any  country ;  as  if 
the  soil  and  climate  of  some  countries  could  give  exist- 
ence, and  vitality,  and  growth  to  the  arts  and  sciences. 
If  this  were  the  case,  we  should  despaii'  of  Africa's  ever 
rising  fr'om  her  abject  condition.  But  all  the  teachings 
of  general  and  particular  history,  all  individual  and 
national  experience  are  opposed  to  such  an  idea.  No 
nation  has  ever  been  found,  which,  by  its  own  unaided 
efforts,  by  some  powerful  inward  impulse,  has  arisen 
from  barbarism  and  desrradation  to  civilization  and  re- 
spectability.  It  is  very  true  that  the  circumstances  of 
some  nations  or  communities  have  been  more  favorable 
than  those  of  others,  for  receiving  and  retaining  and  im- 
proving upon  the  elements  of  civilization.  But  there 
is  nothing  in  race  or  blood,  in  color  or  hair,  that  im- 
parts susceptibility  of  improvement  tor  one  people  over 
another.  Knowledge,  which  lies  at  the  basis  of  all 
human  progress,  came  from  heaven.     It  must  be  ac- 


Liberia's  offering.  13 

quired ;  it  is  not  innate.  The  mind  left  to  itself  from 
infancy,  mtliout  tlie  means  of  culture,  remains,  if  not 
blank,  yet  destitute  of  all  tliose  ideas  wliicli  constitute 
a  man  civilized.  If  it  be  strong  and  vigorous,  it  will, 
instead  of  rising  in  tlie  scale  of  virtue  and  civilization, 
make  deeper  and  more  awful  plunges  into  barbarism. 
The  ricbness  of  the  uncultivated  soil  shows  itself  in  the 
rankness  and  luxuriance  of  the  weeds  which  it  pro- 
duces. The  soil,  then,  must  be  cultivated,  if  we  expect 
to  reap  a  harvest  of  any  value.  So  with  the  mind. 
The  intellectual  plow  and  rake  must  be  used,  and  the 
good  seed  introduced.  Knowledge  must  be  imj^arted. 
As  one  man  learns  it  from  another,  so  nation  learns  it 
from  nation.  Civilization  is  handed  from  one  people 
to  another,  its  great  fountain  and  source  being  the  great 
God  of  the  universe. 

Those  nations  that  are  foremost  in  civilization  and 
science  were  once  in  abject  degradation.  No  one  in 
the  days  of  Csesar  or  Tacitus  could  ever  have  predicted 
that  the  barbarism  and  savage  wildness  of  the  Germans 
would  give  place  to  the  learning,  refinement,  and  cul- 
ture which  that  people  now  exhibit.  When  Cicero  pro- 
nounced the  Britons  unfit  for  slaves,  on  account  of  their 
stupidity,  who  would  have  ventured  to  affirm,  without 
appearing  to  insult  the  understanding  of  men,  that  that 
people  would  become  one  of  the  leading  powers  of  the 
earth  ?  "  Nothing,"  says  Mr.  Macaulay,  "  in  the  early 
existence  of  Britain,  indicated  the  greatness  which  she 
was  destined  to  attain."  Now,  I  would  ask,  if  it  be 
true  that  there  is  innate  ability  in  certain  races  to  rise 
in  the  scale  of  civilization  ;  and  if  that  ability,  as  some 
would  intimate,  exists  in  those  which  have  already 
risen,  why  did  the  Britons,  when  Greece  and  Eome 
flourished  in  all  their  grandeur,  remain  insignificant  and 


14  Liberia's  offeeixg. 

unknown  ?  Why  was  not  tliat  self-civilizing  power  ex- 
hibited by  them,  which  many  now  look  for  in  the  Afri- 
cans? Nor  are  Africans  the  only  people  that  have 
remained  stationary  in  these  latter  days  of  multi2:)lied 
"facilities  for  improvement.  There  are  many  tribes  in 
whose  veins  courses  the  renowned  Caucasian  blood, 
sunk  to-day  in  a  degradation  as  deep,  and  in  an  ignor- 
ance as  profound  as  any  tribe  in  Africa.  If  civilization 
is  inborn  in  the  Caucasian,  as  some  affiim ;  if  it  is  indi- 
genous to  all  the  countries  which  he  inhabits,  why  are 
the  tribes  to  which  we  have  referred,  no  fuii:her  ad- 
vanced? Ought  not  every  land  which  Caucasians 
inhabit,  to  be  in  a  high  state  of  civilization?  But 
many  are  far  fi'om  such  a  state.  Look  at  the  regions 
of  Siberia,  of  Laj^land.  Look  at  the  peasantry  of 
many  of  the  countries  of  Europe.  Why  are  they?  so 
far  down  in  the  scale  of  civilization  ?  And  look  at 
those  countries  in  the  south  of  Europe,  Turkey,  Greece, 
Italy,  Spain,  and  Portugal,  which  formerly  floui'ished, 
and  contained  within  themselves  all  the  learning  and 
wisdom  that  existed  in  the  w^orld.  They  have  sadly 
degenerated.  They  are  comparatively  insignificant. 
Why  did  not  theii'  Caucasian  nature,  if  it  did  not  urge 
them  onward  to  higher  attainments,  keep  them  in  the 
same  leading  positions  among  the  nations  ?  The  an- 
swer is  at  hand.  Their  natures  remain  the  same. 
Their  soil  and  climate  are  the  same.  Demosthenes  and 
Cicero,  Alexander  and  Caesar,  saw  no  serener  sky,  they 
felt  no  more  genial  breezes  than  their  degenerate  jdos- 
terity.  The  sun  shines  with  the  same  power  and 
glory;  the  moon  moves  on  wdth  the  same  soft  and 
silvery  sweetness ;  the  stars  are  as  beautiful  and  bright 
as  when  Homer  and  Virgil  felt  theii*  inspiration. 
What,  then,  causes  the  difference  ?     The  moral  circum- 


libeeia's  offering.  15 

stances  of  the  people  are  changed.  Tlie  circumstances 
that  liave  surrounded  tliem  for  several  centuries  have 
been  of  a  chai^acter  to  retard  their  j)rogress. 

Men,  are  to  a  certain  extent,  the  creatures  of  the  cir- 
cumstances in  which  they  live.  Very  often,  what  they 
achieve  depends  less  upon  their  personal  qualities 
than  upon  surrounding  influences.  The  African  fonns 
no  exception  to  this  rule.  Between  him  and  other 
men  there  is  not  that  difference  which  some  have  la- 
bored to  establish.  There  is,  indeed,  no  essential  dif- 
ference between  any  two  men.  Men,  however,  have 
drawn  foimidable  lines  of  separation  between  them- 
selves and  others,  who,  happening  not  to  have  been 
blessed  with  the  same  propitious  circumstances,  have 
not  risen  to  the  same  intellectual  or  social  standing. 
How  true  the  words  of  the  poet ! — 

"  Alas  !  what  differs  more  than  man  from  man  ? 
And  whence  this  difference  ?     Whence  but  from  himself  ? 
For  see  the  universal  race  endowed 
With  the  same  upright  form."* 

The  African,  then,  is  in  the  rear  of  the  European,  not 
because  of  any  essential  difference  existing  in  theii* 
nature,  but  only  on  account  of  differing  circumstances. 
In  consequence  of  various  influences  to  which  I  have 
already  adverted,  rendering  the  coast  of  his  native  land 
unhealthy  to  foreigners,  civilization  and  Christianity, 
with  their  concomitant  blessings,  have  not  been  gene- 
rally introduced. 

Until  very  recently,  the  country  was  not  known  be- 
yond its  maritime  fi'ontiers.  And  in  keeping  with  the 
general  disposition  to  exaggerate  the  good  or  evil  quali- 
ties of  what  is  unknown,  various  stories  were  put  in  cir- 
culation with  regard  to  this  land  —  stories  which  had 

*  Wordsworth. 


16  Liberia's  offering. 

• 
the  effect  to  beget  indifference  on  tlie  part  of  some,  and 

actual  di'ead  of  penetrating  tlie  country  on  tlie  part  of 
others.  Some  of  these  stories  of  wonders  in  the  inte- 
rior, alid  frightful  appearances  on  the  coast,  arose  in 
remote  antiquity,  and  are  to  this  day  current  among 
the  ignorant.  Recent  explorations  show  that  many  of 
those  horrible  things  had  no  reality  but  in  the  preju- 
dices of  their  inventors.  Perhaps  the  most  ancient  and 
most  amusing  stories  told  of  this  land,  are  those  by 
Hanno,  the  Carthaginian  commander,  who  went  on  a 
voyage  of  colonization  and  discovery  along  the  Atlantic 
coast,  about  five  hundi'ed  years  before  the  Christian 
era.  He  says  in  his  report:  "We  passed  a  country 
burning  with  fires  and  perfumes,  and  streams  of  fire 
supplied  from  it  fell  into  the  sea.  The  country  was 
impassable  on  account  of  the  heat.  We  sailed  quickly 
thence,  being  much  terrified ;  and  passing  on  for  four 
days,  we  discovered  at  night  a  country  full  of  fire.  In 
the  middle  was  a  lofty  fire  larger  than  the  rest,  which 
seemed  to  touch  the  stars."  This  surpasses  even  those 
terrible  pictures  which  children,  in  their  florid  imagin- 
ations, are  accustomed  to  draw  of  that  land. 

All  these  stories  of  the  physical  character  of  the 
country,  blended  with  exaggerated  statements  of  the 
moral  degradation  of  its  inhabitants,  have  tended  to 
keep  away  enterj^rise  and  civilization  from  Africa. 
Men  have  been  willing  barely  to  tolerate  a  trade  with 
the  outskirts  of  the  country ;  and  they  would  not  even 
do  this,  were  it  not  for  the  lucrativeness  of  the  trade. 
And  it  has  been  the  policy  of  African  traders,  though 
they  know  that  many  of  the  tales  in  circulation  about 
Africa  are  devoid  of  foundation,  to  assist  in  giving 
them  cuiTency,  in  order  to  keep  away  competition. 
Can  any  wonder,  in  view  of  these  cu'cumstances,  that 


libeeia's  offering.  17 

Africa  still  lags  beMnd  in  tlie  march  of  human  im- 
provement ? 

And  when,  with  these  things,  we  take  into  consider- 
ation the  regular  and  thoroughly  organized  efforts 
which  have  been  put  forth  to  keep  back  the  African ; 
when  we  think  of  the  numerous  obstacles  which  have 
been  thrown  into  the  way  of  his  advancement  by  the 
avarice  and  mckedness  of  men,  do  we  not  rather  won- 
der that  he  is  no  lower  down  in  barbarism  ?  Do  we 
not  rather  wonder  that  any  portion  of  this  people 
should  have  made  progress  in  civilization,  in  literature, 
and  in  science  ? 

Shall  we  here  tell  you  of  the  sufferings  which  the 
slave-trade  has  entailed  upon  them  ?  Shall  we  tell  you 
of  their  sorrows  in  the  countries  of  their  captivity? 
Oh !  we  would  not  harrow  up  the  feelings  of  this 
audience  with  tales  of  woe.  We  would  but  refer  to 
slavery  and  the  slave-trade.  Those  names  alone  are  suf- 
ficient to  call  up  emotions  of  sympathy  wherever  there 
exist  the  feelings  of  humanity.  The  wrongs  of  the  Afri- 
can fill  the  darkest  page  of  human  history.  To  recount 
the  barbarities  which  the  Christian  nations  of  Europe 
and  of  America  have  inflicted,  and  are  now  inflicting 
upon  the  negro,  "  would  fill  volumes,  and  they  should 
be  written  "with  tears  instead  of  ink,  and  on  sack-cloth 
instead  of  parchment."  We  refer  not  merely  to  those 
physical  annoyances,  and  diabolical  tortures,  and  de- 
basing usages,  to  which,  in  the  countries  of  their  exile, 
they  have  been  subjected,  but  also  to  those  deeper 
wrongs  whose  tendency  has  been  to  dwarf  the  soul,  to 
emasculate  the  mind.  You  have  perhaps  read  the  nar- 
rative of  African  sufferings ;  but  painfully  intense  as 
they  are,  they  are  only  the  outside — they  are  only  the 
visible.    There  are  a  thousand  little  evils  which  can 

2 


18  Liberia's  offering. 

never  be  exi^ressed.  There  is  a  sorrow  of  the  heart, 
with  which  the  stranger  can  not  intermeddle.  There 
are  secret  agonies  known  only  to  God,  which  are  far 
more  acute  than  any  external  tortures.  Oh  !  it  is  not 
the  smiting  of  the  back,  until  the  earth  is  crimsoned 
with  streams  of  blood ;  it  is  not  the  pursuing  of  human 
beings  with  blood-hounds ;  it  is  not  the  amputation  of 
the  limbs ;  it  is  not  even  the  killing  of  the  body ;  it  is 
not  these  that  are  the  keenest  sufferings  that  a  people 
can  undergo.  Oh !  no ;  these  affect  only  the  outward 
man,  and  may  leave  untouched  the  majestic  mind. 
But  those  inflictions  which  tend  to  contract  and  de- 
stroy the  mind ;  those  cruelties  which  benumb  the  sen- 
sibility of  the  soul,  those  influences  which  chill  and 
arrest  the  currency  of  the  heart's  affections — these  are 
the  awfiil  instruments  of  real  suffering;  and  deo;rada- 
tion ;  and  these  have  been  made  to  operate  upon  the 
Afi'ican. 

But  mark  the  providence  of  God  in  the  case  of  this 
people.  The  very  means  which,  to  all  human  appear- 
ance, seemed  calculated  to  crush  them  out  from  the 
earth,  have  been  converted  into  means  of  blessing.  In 
the  countries  of  their  exile,  they  have  come  under  the 
influences  of  Christianity,  from  which  they  were  de- 
barred in  their  own  country,  by  physical  cu'cumstances. 
They  have  been  almost  mii'aculously  preserved.  It  may 
be  said  of  them  as  of  the  Israelites  in  Egypt :  "  The 
more  they  afflicted  them,  the  more  they  multiplied  and 
grew."  They  have  grown  desj)ite  affliction,  both  nu- 
merically and  intellectually ;  their  national  life  has  been 
remarkably  intense ;  they  still  retain  in  undiminished 
vigor  their  integrity  as  a  people. 

And,  as  if  in  fulfillment  of  a  Divine  plan,  some  are 
beginning  to  return  to  their  fatherland  from  the  house 


Liberia's  offering.  19 

of  their  bitter  pilgrimage,  laden  witli  the  blessings  of 
Christianity  and  civilization,  and  are  successfully  intro- 
ducing them  among  their  benighted  brethren.  Liberia, 
the  region  of  Africa  which  these  pioneers  inhabit,  insig- 
nificant  though  it  may  be  among  the  nations  of  the 
earth,  is  an  important  spot  on  that  continent.  It  is  a 
center  whence  is  beginning  to  radiate  to  different  j)oints 
of  that  land  the  light  of  Christianity.  There  are  fif- 
teen thousand  civilized  and  Christianized  Africans  striv- 
ing to  accomplish  the  twofold  work  of  establishing  and 
maintaining  an  independent  nationality,  and  of  intro- 
ducing the  Gospel  among  untold  millions  of  unevan. 
gelized  and  barbarous  men.  Their  residence  on  that 
coast  of  only  thirty  years  has  already  brought  to  pass 
important  and  salutary  revolutions  in  the  condition  of 
that  portion  of  Africa. 

Liberia  has  resisted  the  influence  of  heathenism. 
She  has  stood  her  ground  against  the  encroachments 
of  a  superstition  which,  considering  the  general  charac- 
ter of  her  citizens,  she  was  but  little  prej)ared  to  meet. 
She  has  comj)letely,  in  all  her  feebleness,  annihilated 
the  slave-trade  along  seven  hundred  miles  of  coast. 
Before  the  establishment  of  that  little  Republic,  the 
tribes  in  all  the  extent  of  country  now  within  our 
jurisdiction,  and  under  oui*  influence,  were  perpetually 
harassed  by  the  incm^sions  of  those  monsters  in  human 
form,  the  slave-traders.  They  could  feel  secui^e  at  no 
time.  War !  war  !  war !  and  carnage  were  continually 
the  cry,  and  every  nook  and  corner  was  made  to  trem- 
ble. Young  and  old,  male  and  female,  fell  victims  to 
the  heartless  marauders.  Those  who  escaped  did  so 
only  by  fleeing  from  the  neighborhood  of  the  slave- 
hunters  to  the  thickets  and  swamps — to  the  milder  and 
safer  neighborhood  of  leopards  and  boa  constrictors. 


20  Liberia's  offering. 

But,  blessed  be  God,  a  different  state  of  tilings  now 
exists. 

A^Tien,  forty  years  ago,  tlie  small  l^and  of  eighty 
colored  persons  settled  on  Cape  Mesiu'ado,  far  away,  ■ 
near  five  thousand  miles  across  tlie  sea  from  the  place 
of  their  bii'th,  in  a  strange  and  insalubiious  climate, 
surrounded  by  hostile  tribes  and  other  unj^ropitious 
influences,  owning  only  a  few  acres  of  land,  no  one 
would  have  supposed  that  in  less  than  forty  years,  in 
the  lifetime  of  some  of  the  fii'st  settlers,  that  peoj^le 
would  so  enlarge  and  spread  themselves,  so  extend 
theii'  influences  as  to  possess  over  fifty  thousand  square 
miles  of  tenitory,  holding  under  their  jimsdiction  over 
two  hundred  thousand  souls.  Tribes  which,  when  they 
first  landed  on  those  shores,  could  easily  have  over- 
whelmed them  and  swept  them  into  the  sea,  they  now 
compel  to  cease  intercourse  with  the  slave-trader,  to 
forget  their  mutual  feuds  in  obedience  to  Christian  law, 
and  to  cease  from  wars  and  bloodshed.  They  induce 
them,  instead  of  the  sword,  to  use  the  plowshare,  and 
instead  of  the  spear,  the  jDruning-hook.  And  this  influ- 
ence is  growing.  Liberia  is  known  and  respected  for 
hundreds  of  miles  in  the  interior ;  and  by  the  contact 
which  is  every  day  occuning  between  traders  and  tran- 
sient \TLsitors  from  the  far  interior  and  the  ci\ali2ed 
Liberians,  our  influence  is  going  out  in  all  directions, 
and  a  great  work  is  being  accomplished  in  this  paii;  of 
Africa. 

But  you  may  ask  for  positive  advancement  in  the 
Republic  of  Liberia.  You  may  point  me  to  the  prog- 
ress of  this  countiy ;  you  may  point  me  to  the  physical 
revolutions  which  Anglo-Saxon  genius  has  produced 
over  all  this  land ;  you  may  bid  me  look  at  the  various 
appliances  of  ci\41ization,  and  you  may  ask :  Can  Libe- 
ria show  any  thing  like  these  ? 


Liberia's  offering.  21 

In  reply,  I  miglit  point  you  to  nnmerous  pliysical 
changes  in  Liberia.  I  miglit  point  you  to  numerous 
instances  of  decided  improvement  in  tlie  pliysical  aspect 
of  tliat  portion  of  Africa.  But  I  now  choose  to  refer 
you  to  the  moral  work  that  has  been  accomplished.  I 
point  you  to  barbarism  encroached  upon  and  overcome ; 
to  carnage  and  bloodshed  arrested ;  to  peace  produced 
among  belligerents ;  to  confidence  and  secmity,  comfort 
and  happiness  restored;  to  lawful  traffic  taking  the 
place  of  unla^vfril ;  and  I  ask  whether  the  triumphs  of 
love  over  hatred ;  the  triumphs  of  peace  over  war ;  the 
trium23hs  of  humanity  over  barbarism  and  outrage ;  the 
trimnj^hs  of  Christianity  over  heathenism,  be  not  enti- 
tled to  at  least  as  much  respect  as  the  triumph  of  phys- 
ical ao;encies  over  the  face  of  natui'e  ?  I  do  not  know 
of  any  other  place  in  the  world  where  fifteen  thousand 
persons  are  doing  so  important  a  work  as  those  fifteen 
thousand  Liberians.  Oh !  that  they  may  have  the  wis- 
dom to  comprehend  the  responsibility  of  then*  position, 
and  the  grace  to  discharge  the  duties  it  involves  ! 

The  land  is  gradually  opening.  The  portals  which 
have  been  kept  closed  through  all  the  historic  ages  by 
the  repulsive  inhospitality  of  nature,  are  yielding  to 
the  enterprise,  the  greed  of  trade,  and  the  missionaiy 
zeal  of  the  nineteenth  century.  Barth  in  the  east  and 
north,  Livingstone  in  the  south,  have  brought  before 
the  world  treasui'es  of  information  with  regard  to  that 
land.  Seymour  and  Sims,*  citizens  of  Liberia,  on  the 
west  have  rendered  valuable  service.  Ex^^lorations  in 
various  sections  of  the  country  are  now  gojng  on. 
From  almost  every  point  of  the  compass  expeditions 
are  proceeding  to  the  interior  of  the  continent.     Soon 

*  The  last  two  are  names  but  little  known,  but  not  undeserving  of  mention,  if 
adventure,  and  endurance,  and  sufifering  for  the  sake  of  enlarging  the  sphere  of 
)«uman  knowledge,  entitle  any  to  be  numbered  among  the  benefactors  of  mankind. 


22  Liberia's  offering. 

tlie  mysteries  of  tlie  land  ^vill  he  unfolded  to  tlie  gaze 
and  contemplation  of  an  astonished  world.  These  are 
the  preliminaries  to  that  great  event  which  is  jjredicted 
in  the  text :  "  Ethiopia  shall  soon  stretch  foi-th  her 
hands  unto  Grod." 

We  have  endeavored  carefully  to  examine  this  glori- 
ous and  oft-cited  passage  in  the  original  Hebrew ;  and 
it  has  occurred  to  us  that  the  passage  might  have  been 
literally  rendered  :  "  Ethiopia  shall  suddenly  stretch  out 
her  hands  unto  God."  The  idea  contained  in  the  verb 
taritz,  rendered,  "  shall  soon  stretch  out^''  does  not  seem 
to  refer  so  much  to  the  time  as  to  the  manner  of  the 
action  j^redicted.  The  &st  meaning  of  the  verb  is  to 
run;  so  it  is  rendered  in  Psalm  119  :  32,  "I  will  run 
in  the  way  of  thy  commandments ;"  and  in  Jeremiah 

23  ; 31,  "I  have  not  sent  these  prophets,  yet  they  ran^'' 
etc.  In  the  Hiphil  form,  the  form  which  occiu's  in  the 
text,  the  verb  means  to  cause  to  run  /  or  to  lead  on 
hastily,  to  do  a  thing  quickly  before  the  occiuTence  of 
any  obstacle;  hence,  suddenly.  Gesenius,  the  distin- 
guished German  philologist,  translates  the  passage: 
Ethiojoia  shall  let  her  hands  make  haste  to  God." 

If,  then,  the  idea  is,  that  EthiojDia  shall  suddenly  be 
redeemed,  is  there  not  foi^nished  a  rebuke  to  those  who, 
because  Afi'ica  has  lain  so  long  in  darkness  and  gloom, 
and  because  of  the  unpromising  aspect  of  her  present 
moral  condition,  give  themselves  up  to  despaii",  and 
fancy  that  there  will  never  be  the  inaugui'ation  of  bet- 
ter times?  Why  should  men  at  any  time  ventiue 
unqualified  opinions  on  matters  in  which  the  intellect- 
ual vision  is  necessarily  bounded,  and  with  regard  to 
which  experience  so  al^undantly  shows  they  can  not 
aiTive  at  conclusions  altogether  free  from  error,  however 
extensive  the  induction  upon  which  they  base  their 


Liberia's  offering.  23 

reasonings  ?  The  problem  of  African  disentlirallment 
and  elevation  is  beyond  tlie  power  of  human  ingenuity 
to  solve.  Nothing  short  of  Omniscience  could  so  lay 
do^vn  the  premises  for  reasoning  upon  this  important 
subject,  as  to  secure  a  result  entirely  free  fr^om  eiTor. 
Can  the  most  acute  and  far-reachino;  mind  indicate  the 
antecedents  and  concomitants  of  that  remarkable  period 
when  a  nation  shall  be  bom  in  a  day  ?  We  may  now 
be  upon  the  very  eve  of  events  which  are  to  usher  in 
the  redemj^tion  of  Africa.  The  time,  yea,  the  set  time 
to  favor  Africa  may  be  just  about  to  break  upon  us  in 
all  its  gloiy.  And  it  may  be  that  centuries  form  the 
interval  which  lies  between  us  and  the  desired  consum- 
mation. We  can  not  tell;  though  fr^om  the  signs  of 
the  times  we  feel  justified  in  taking  a  hopefril  rather 
than  a  desponding  view. 

The  success  which  has  afready  attended  the  efforts 
to  civilize  and  Christianize  that  dark  land  gives  encour- 
aging promise  of  a  glorious  fatui'e. 

"  Within  the  last  twenty-five  years  more  than  one  hundred  Christian 
churches  have  been  organized  in  that  country,  and  upwards  of  fifteen  thou- 
sand hopeful  converts  have  been  gathered  into  those  chiu'ches.  Nearly  two 
hundred  schools  are  in  full  operation  in  connection  with  these  various  mis- 
sions, and  not  less  than  sixteen  thousand  native  youths  are  receiving  a 
Christian  training  in  those  schools  at  the  present  moment.  More  than 
twenty  different  dialects  have  been  studied  out  and  reduced  to  writing,  into 
many  of  which  large  portions  of  sacred  Scripture,  as  well  as  other  religious 
books,  have  been  translated,  printed,  and  circulated  among  the  people ;  and 
we  are,  no  doubt,  in  the  bounds  of  truth  and  probabiUty,  when  it  is  assumed 
that  some  knowledge  of  the  Christian  salvation  has  been  brought  by  direct 
and  indirect  means  within  the  reach  of  at  least  five  millions  of  immortal 
beings,  who  had  never  before  heard  of  the  blessed  name  of  the  Saviour. 

"  Bright  Christian  lights  now  begin  to  blaze  up  at  intervals,  along  a  line 
of  sea-coast  of  more  than  three  thousand  miles,  where  unbroken  night  for- 
merly reigned.  The  everlasting  Gospel  is  now  preached  in  Kumasi  and 
Abomi,  the  capitals  respectively  of  Ashantee  and  Dahomej^,  two  of  the  most 
barbarous  kingdoms  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  Christian  missions  are  now 
being  established  all  over  the  kingdom  of  Yoruba,  a  land  once  wholly  given 


24  Liberia's  offering. 

up  to  the  slave-trade  and  bloodshed.  Along  the  banks  of  the  far  interior 
Niger,  where  the  bones  of  the  great  African  traveler  have  slumbered  for 
half  a  century,  Christian  lights  are  springing  up  in  the  track  of  the  explor- 
ing expedition.  At  Old  Calabar,  a  place  renowned  in  former  times  not 
only  for  being  one  of  the  chief  seats  of  the  foreign  slave-trade,  but  for  the 
unparalleled  cruelties  and  barbarities  of  its  people,  the  Gospel  is  not  only 
preached,  but  the  Spirit  of  God  is  poured  out  upon  that  debased  people. 
The  Gospel  has  recently  been  proclaimed  by  our  own  (Presbyterian)  mis- 
sionaries from  Corisco,  on  the  bights  of  the  Sien-a  del  Crystal  Mountains,  to 
a  people  who  had  not  only  never  before  heard  it,  but  who  themselves  were 
unknown  to  the  Christian  world  until  within  a  few  years  past.  When  all 
these  things  are  taken  into  consideration,  every  discerning  mind  must  see 
at  once  that  a  footing  of  immense  advantage  has  already  been  acquired ", 
and  if  present  measures,  with  such  modifications  as  may  be  suggested  by 
experience,  are  followed  up,  in  dependence  upon  Divine  aid,  the  time  is  not 
far  distant  when  the  light  of  the  Gospel  shall  reach  the  darkest  and  most 
remote  corner  of  that  great  continent."* 

There  is  a  strong  probability  tliat  tlie  progi^ess  of 
trutli  in  AMca  will  be  rapid  and  sudden.  Tlie  mis- 
sionaiy  does  not  encounter  tliere,  as  in  Asia,  any  for- 
midable superstition  to  be  battered  down.  Though 
the  people  acknowledge  the  existence  of  good  and  bad 
spiiits,  they  have  no  system  of  religion  protected  by 
the  sanction  of  a  hoary  antiquity ;  so  that  the  work  of 
evangelization  need  not  be  commenced  by  the  slow 
process  of  undermining  ancient  and  venerable  systems 
of  belief.  The  missionaiy's  hardest  work  is  to  check 
the  downward  cuiTency  of  the  affections,  to  beget 
thoughtfulness  on  the  subject  of  religion,  to  instill 
ideas  of  religion  into  the  mind.  His  work  is  more 
constractive  than  destructive.  He  has  nothing  to 
demolish;  he  has  only  to  aiTange  his  materials,  and 
proceed  to  build. 

We  look  for  great  things  in  Africa  dming  the  next 
five-and-twenty  years.  Why  should  it  be  thought  a 
thing  impossible  for  that  moral  desert  to  bloom  and 
blossom  as  the  rose  ?     Why  should  it  be  regarded  as 

*  Princeton  Review,  July,  1858. 


Liberia's  offering.  25 

impossible  for  tlie  moral  niglit  wliicli  lias  so  long  rested 
upon  that  land  to  give  place  to  a  glorious  day  ?  If  tlie 
Lord  lias  declared  tliat  Ethiopia  sliall  suddenly  stretch 
forth  her  hands  unto  God,  why  should  we  be  inclined 
to  limit,  him  in  his  power  %  Is  there  any  thing  too  hard 
for  the  Lord  %  If  he  be  Almighty,  if  he  can  create  at 
all,  if  he  can  bring  a  single  atom  of  matter  from  the 
abyss  of  nothingness  into  existence,  then  what  can  he 
not  do  ?  He  only  speaks,  and  it  is  done ;  he  commands, 
and  it  stands  fast ;  he  spake,  and  the  confusion  of  chaos 
was  hushed,  and  the  world  —  the  beautiful  cosmos  — 
came  forth  with  all  its  symmetry  and  grandem*.  Then 
why  should  there  be  any  thing  impossible  in  the  doc- 
trine that  Ethiopia — ^benighted  and  outraged  Ethiopia 
—  shall  suddenly  stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God  ? 
Why  should  it  be  thought  impossible  for  him  to  bring 
order  out  of  the  moral  and  intellectual  chaos  of  that 
land  ? 

K  the  men  who  are  skeptical  as  to  the  rapid  evan- 
gelization and  civilization  of  Africa  could  only  catch 
the  hum  of  the  missionary  schools  scattered  in  various 
j)ortions  of  that  land ;  could  they  only  hear  the  earnest 
aj)peals  of  leading  men  among  various  tribes  for  Christ- 
ianity and  its  teachings ;  could  they  hear,  as  we  hear, 
who  live  on  that  barbarous  coast,  the  munnurings  of 
the  fountain's  of  the  great  deep  of  ignorance  and  super- 
stition, which  are  breaking  up  all  around  us ;  could 
they  hear  the  noise,  which  we  hear,  of  the  rattling  of 
diy  bones  strewed  over  that  immense  valley,  they 
would  cease  to  doubt ;  they  would  recognize,  as  we  do, 
the  promising  future  before  us  ;  they  would  see  that  a 
day  of  life  and  joy  is  rapidly  dawning  uj)on  Africa, 
and  that  there  is  a  strong  probability  that  He  whose 
right  it  is  to  reign  will  suddenly  come  and  take  pos- 


26  LIBERIA'S    OFFEEING. 

session  of  tliat  land.  It  need  not  imply  any  pretension 
to  proplietic  insiglit  for  us  to  declare  that  we  live  in 
tlie  shadows  of  remarkaljle  events  in  the  history  of 
Afi'ica  —  events  whose  consequences  will  be  of  trans^ 
cendent  importance  and  unending  interest,  not  only  to 
that  down-trodden  land,  Tjut  to  the  whole  human  race. 
Oh !  that  the  Christian  Church  thi'oujxhout  the  world 
would  be  fervent  in  prayer  and  diligent  in  labor,  that 
the  day  may  be  hastened  when  "  Ethiopia  shall  stretch 
forth  her  hands  unto  God  !" 

Have  the  black  men  of  the  United  States  no  part  to 
take  in  this  work  ?  There  lies  the  land  of  your  fathers, 
in  its  natui'al  beauty  and  glory — a  country  well-watered 
every  where  as  the  garden  of  the  Lord  —  a  country  of 
hills  and  valleys,  of  rivers  and  brooks,  of  fields  and 
plains. 

"  Every  prospect  pleases 
And  only  man  is  vile." 

There  it  lies  also  in  its  spiritual  desolation — millions 
of  yom'  brethren  in  the  most  awful  destitution.  Have 
you,  O  ye  children  of  Africa !  no  tear  to  shed,  no  s}Tn- 
patliy  to  bestow,  no  effort  to  put  forth  for  youi-  gray- 
haii'ed  parent  in  soitow  and  affliction ;  for  your  breth- 
ren who  have  not,  as  you  have,  enjoyed  the  blessings 
of  civilization  and  Christianity  ?  Ai'e  you  ashamed  of 
Afi'ica  because  she  has  been  plundered  and  lifled  by 
^vicked  men  ?  Do  you  turn  your  backs  upon  your 
mother  because  she  is  not  high  among  the  nations  ? 
Are  you  neglecting  her  with  the  hoj^e  of  elevating 
youi'selves  in  this  country  ?  Oh  !  remember  that 
Em^opeans  can  not  carry  on  the  work  so  much  need- 
ed in  that  land,  and  which  experience  proves  that  you 
are  so  well  fitted  to  achieve.  This  all-important  work 
is  yours.      White  men  go  there ;    they  wither   and 


libeeia's  offering.  27 

die.  You  were  brought  away  by  tlie  peiTaission  of 
Providence,  doubtless,  tliat  you  miglit  be  prepared  and 
fitted  to  return  and  instruct  yom-  brethren.  If  you 
turn  away  from  the  work  to  which  Providence  evident- 
ly calls  you,  with  the  selfish  hope  of  elevating  youi'- 
selves  in  this  country,  beware  lest  the  calamities  come 
upon  you  which  are  threatened  to  those  who  neglect  to 
honor  their  parents.  I  give  it  as  my  most  serious  con- 
viction, that  there  will  be  no  real  prosperity  among  the 
Africans  in  this  land,  no  proper  respect  shown  them  by 
the  dominant  race,  so  long  as  they  persist,  as  a  mass,  in 
ignoring  the  claims  of  Africa  upon  them.  All  their 
eftbrts  at  self-elevation  here  which  shall  leave  Africa 
out  of  the  question,  will  be  as  "  sowing  to  the  wind." 

It  is  gratifying  to  find,  however,  that  there  has  been, 
during  the  last  few  years,  a  decided  change  for  the  bet- 
ter in  the  feelings  of  many  toward  Africa.  Formerly, 
those  who  rose  up  among  the  colored  people  of  this 
country  to  plead  for  African  civilization  by  her  own 
descendants,  were  denounced  as  traitors,  and  were  often 
in  danger  of  being  stoned  as  enemies  to  the  peace  and 
prosperity  of  their  brethren.  But  now  some  of  the 
leading  men  among  you  are  taking  large  views  of  duty, 
and  no  longer  consider  it  a  mark  of  weakness  to  plead 
for  the  evangelization  of  millions  of  souls  by  theii' 
brethi^en  in  this  land.  They  no  longer  consider  it  dis- 
graceful to  urge  colored  men  of  intelligence  and  enter- 
prise to  turn  their  attention  to  Africa. 

It  has  j)leased  Almighty  God,  in  late  years,  as  I  have 
endeavored  to  show,  to  make  interesting  openings  for 
the  introduction  of  the  Gospel  into  that  land.  Scores 
of  doors  which,  a  few  years  ago,  were  strongly  bolted, 
are  now,  by  the  Divine  agency,  thrown  open  before 
the  Church.     Broad  entrances  are  proffered  the  Gospel 


28  libeeia's  offering. 

of  Christ.  Will  not  black  men  who  have  so  freely 
received,  hasten  to  give  the  waters  of  life  to  the  perish- 
ing millions  ?  A  call  is  to-day  made  u2:)on  you  from 
youi'  benighted  brethi'en.  Are  you  prepared  to  spurn 
it  ?  Have  you  no  response  for  this  Macedonian  call  ? 
I  entreat  you,  by  all  the  blessings  you  have  enjoyed,  by 
all  the  blessings  you  now  enjoy,  by  all  the  blessings 
you  hope  to  enjoy,  remember  Africa.  I  beseech  you  by 
the  dii'e  necessities  of  our  people ;  by  their  long  night 
of  sorrow  and  suffering ;  by  the  cries  louder  than  thun- 
der, that  are  wafted  from  the  far  interior,  upon  every 
Avind  that  blows ;  by  the  encouraging  prospects  before 
us;  by  all  the  promises  of  God — men  and  brethren, 
come  over  and  help  us — helj) "  Ethiopia  to  stretch  forth 
her  hands  imto  God." 


VINDICATION  OF  THE  APEICAN  RACE ; 

BEING   A 

BRIKP^     EX^M:i]Sr^TIO:N"      OF     THE      ^RG-TJiMElSrTS 

IN  FAVOR  OF 

AFRICAN    INFERIORITY. 

t 

(First    published    in    Liberia    in    Acgcst,    1857.) 


"  MiSLiKE  me  not  for  my  complexion, 
The  shadowed  livery  of  the  burnished  sun, 
To  whom  I  am  a  neighbor,  and  near  bred  ; 
Bring  me  the  fairest  creature  northern  bom, 
"Where  Phoebus'  fire  scarce  thaws  the  icicles, 
And  let  us  make  incisions    .     .     . 
To  prove  whose  blood  is  reddest,  his  or  mine." 


-Shakspeare. 


"  Alas  !  what  differs  more  than  man  from  man  ? 
And  whence  that  difference  ?  whence  but  from  himself? 
For  see  the  universal  Race  endowed 
"With  the  same  upright  form." 


—Wordsworth. 


NOAH'S   MALEDICTION* 


"  Opinionum  commenta  dies  delet,  naturae  judicia  confirmat." 

The  African  race,  in  consequence  of  its  jDecnliar  phy- 
sical cliaracteristics,  and  the  cii'cumstances  unfavorable 
to  its  progress  in  liuman  improvement,  by  which,  for 
more  than  two  thousand  years,  it  has  been  suiTounded, 
has  been  generally  and  variously  misrepresented  and 
traduced.  For  centimes,  has  this  race  engaged  the  at- 
tention of  the  enlightened  and  scientific  among  other 
races.  Its  complexion  and  haii'  have  fui'nished  difficult 
ethnological  problems ;  and  the  fact  that  it  has  for  a 
long  time  stood  at  the  very  bottom  of  civilization,  and 
has  seemed  to  be  in  the  rear  of  every  other  peoj)le,  sub- 
jected in  its  ovni  land,  and  in  all  other  lands,  to  the 
most  degrading  oppression,  has  suggested  to  some  the 
idea,  that  it  is  naturally  and  iiTecoverably,  an  inferior 
race,  and  that  some  secret  and  inevitable,  though  inex- 
plicable, influence  operates  upon  it. 

Various  theories  have  been  started  as  fiu^nishinQ;  sat- 
isfactory  ex]3lanation  of  the  causes  operating  uj)on  this 
unfortunate  race.  Of  these,  none  has  been  more  strenu- 
ously m'ged  by  the  oj^posers  of  the  race  than  that  which 
refers  its  condition  to  a  malediction  recorded  in  Genesis 
9  :  25,  26,  27.  They  who  support  this  theory  take  the 
ground  that  the  curse  was  denounced  against  Ham,  the 
progenitor  of  the  African  race,  and  all  his  posterity; 

*  Genesis  9  :  25,  26,  21. 


32  Liberia's  offering. 

affinning  tliat  tlie  general  condition,  character  and  capa- 
bilities of  Africans  point  tliem  out  as  the  subjects  of  the 
malediction.  Thus,  by  an  argument  a  ^posteriorly  not- 
withstanding the  reading  of  the  passage  and  other  cir- 
cumstances plainly  indicate  that  the  curse  was  uttered 
against  Canaan,  the  youngest  son  of  Ham,  they  infer 
that  it  was  uttered  against  Ham  and  all  his  posterity, 
simply  because,  on  other  grounds  they  can  not,  or  will 
not,  account  for  the  condition  of  the  Afi^ican  race. 
They  prove  the  amplication  of  the  cui^se  from  the  condi- 
tion of  the  race,  and  then  argue  the  necessity  of  that 
condition  from  the  aj^plication  of  the  curse.  Does  not 
such  reasoning  marvelously  involve  what  logicians  call 
the  argumentum  in  orhem  ? 

Before  proceeding  to  notice  the  justness  of  that  inter- 
pretation of  Noah's  malediction,  which  refers  it  to  the 
African  race,  it  may  be  j^roper  to  remark,  that  such  an 
interpretation  of  that  passage  of  Scrij^tm-e  was  not  in- 
sisted upon  until  the  commencement  of  the  unhallowed 
traffic  in  African  slaves ;  in  which  traffic,  at  its  begin- 
ning, nearly  all  the  nations  of  Chiistendom  participated. 
The  more  conscientious  among  those  who  engaged  in 
the  trade,  not  being  able  to  divest  themselves  of  re- 
sponsibility in  thus  robbing  of  theii'  rights  beings, 
whose  claims  to  humanity  they  could  not  disj)rove, 
"  wi'ested"  this  passage  of  Scriptm^e  in  justification  of 
theii'  proceedings  ;  affii'ming  that  the  race  was  doomed 
to  slavery,  and  that  themselves  were  only  instruments 
in  verifying  the  prediction  of  its  doom.  The  Chm'ch, 
also,  countenanced  these  unjust  proceedings,  by  giving 
the  weight  of  its  sanction  to  the  erroneous,  but  design- 
ing construction  put  upon  that  passage  of  the  word  of 
God ;  a  j)assage  evidently  recorded  to  encourage  and 
justify  the  Israelites  in  their  invasion  of  the  land  of 


Liberia's  offering.  33 

Canaan,  and  destruction  of  tlie  Canaanites  —  a  j)eople, 
wliom  tlieir  own  iniquities,  and  those  of  their  ancestors, 
had  rendered  fit  vessels  of  the  wrath  and  righteous 
retribution  of  heaven.  When  we  say  that  the  Church 
countenanced  these  ^proceedings,  we  do  not  mean  that  it 
did  this  of  de-sign^  or  with  any  view  of  deriving  gain 
from  the  avarice  of  slave-traders.  It  being  no  doubt 
the  prevalent  opinion  of  the  times,  influential  organs  of 
the  Church,  not  regarding  it  as  any  j)oiiit  of  imj^ortance, 
recpiii'ing  more  extensive  investigations,  coincided  with 
the  popular  \aew,  that  they  might  not,  by  insisting 
upon  a  point  of  apparently  minor  importance,  offend 
the  prejudices  of  the  multitude  and  thus  injm'e  theii' 
influence.*  Men,  whose  characters  were  otherwise  irre. 
proachable,  were  induced  by  the  habits  of  thought  then 
prevailing,  and  by  the  supposed  convenience  of  slave 
labor,  to  purchase  the  African  captives  brought  to  their 
shores.  Some  even  of  the  most  eminent  divines  were 
so  far  implicated  in  the  error,  that  they,  Avith  perfect 
ease  of  conscience,  held  negroes  in  bondage.  The  dis- 
tinguished William  Penn,  Eev.  George  Whitefield,  of 
world-wide  celebrity.  President  Edwards,  author  of 
several  standard  works  in  Theology,  were  sla/veliolders. 
But  this  "minor"  point  grew  to  such  magnitude,  and 
in  its  influence  was  so  injurious,  that  both  clergymen 
and  laymen  came  forward  and  opposed  the  enslavement 
of  Africans,  as  "  contraiy  to  the  laws  of  God,  and  as 
outraging  every  principle  of  justice  recognized  among 
men  ;"  insisting  that  "  God  hath  made  of  one  blood  all 
the  nations  of  the  earth  ;"  and  that  if  the  Gospel  were 

*  There  are  some  in  the  Church  who  believe  it  right  to  accommodate  the  teach- 
ings of  the  Bible  to  the  opinions  and  circumstances  of  men,  when  such  accommoda- 
tion does  not  involve  a  palpable  violation  of  any  clearly  revealed  principle ;  wbUe 
others  maintain  that  the  "  whole  counsel  of  God,"  both  expressed  and  implied, 
should  be  "  declared,"  independently  of  the  prejudices  and  opinions  of  men. 
3 


34  Liberia's  offering. 

universally  and  riglitly  appealed  to,  no  otlier  bond 
would  be  known  among  men,  but  that  of  Cluistian 
brotlierliood." 

But  the  conuuon  intei-pretation  of  the  curse  under 
consideration  is  still  extant  among  some  di\4nes,  par- 
ticularly in  America,  and  is  used  by  them  to  justify 
that  system  of  enormous  iniquity,  which  of  certain  sec- 
tions of  that  coimtry  is  denominated  the  "  peculiar  in- 
stitution." They  contend  that  it  is  fiiiitless  to  endeavor 
to  elevate  the  Afiican ;  for  he  is  doomed  to  perpetual 
servitude,  and  is,  therefore,  fitted  for  no  other  condi- 
tion.* Hence,  one  of  them  did  not  hesitate  to  affirm 
that  he  felt  a  conscientious  reluctance  to  offer  a  single 
j^rayer,  if  by  that  prayer  all  the  slaves  in  the  Union 
Avould  be  set  free. 

It  does  not,  however,  admit  of  dispute,  that  the  au- 
thority of  divines  of  acknowledged  ability,  on  either 
side  of  the  question,  is  not  to  be  despised ;  and  it  is 
rather  a  dangerous  thing  for  a  mere  neophyte,  hardly 
yet  from  the  schools,  to  differ  where  learned  and  vener- 
able doctors  agree.  But  the  question  as  to  the  true  ap- 
plication of  the  cm'se  must,  after  all,  be  decided,  not  by 
authority,  but  by  the  weight  of  argument  in  support  of 
the  positions  assumed.     Therefore,  while  jdelding  what 

*  Being  in  the  city  of  New- York  on  the  Thanksgiving  Day  of  1850,  we  were  in- 
vited by  Rev.  J.  B.  Pinney  to  attend  divine  services  at  one  of  the  most  popular  and 
influential  churches  in  that  city.  The  pastor,  a  D.D.  of  eminent  learning  and  abil- 
ity, preached  a  political  discourse  having  reference  to  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law,  then 
recently  enacted.  In  the  course  of  his  sermon,  which  was  in  justification  of  the 
|aw,  the  minister  took  a  view  of  the  condition  and  character  of  the  colored  people 
ju  the  United  States,  in  which  he  made  an  assertion  to  the  effect,  that  the  efforts  of 
those  who  were  endeavoring  to  elevate  Africans  in  America  were,  and  always  would 
be,  fruitless.  "  The  decree,"  he  remarked,  "  has  gone  forth,  and  we  can  not  re- 
verse it."  "  Cursed  be  Canaan,  a  servant  of  servants  shall  he  be  unto  his  breth- 
ren." That  was  the  first  of  our  hearing  such  weight  given  to  that  interpretation 
and  application  of  Noah's  malediction ;  and  though  not  over  eighteen  years  old,  we 
experienced,  as  it  were,  an  intuitive  revulsion  of  mind  never  to  be  forgotten. 


Liberia's  offering.  35 

we  conceive  to  be  a  reasonable  submission  to  authority, 
we  venture  to  differ  most  decidedly  from  the  "  doctors." 
But  in  differing  from  them,  we  are  prepared  to  make 
j^roper  allowance.  They  have  doubtless  been  "  brought 
up  to  their  opinions"  upon  this  subject ;  and,  regarding 
the  whole  matter  as  of  inconsiderable  importance,  they 
do  not  exert  themselves  to  make  frirther  investigations 
in  reference  to  it.  It  is  a  fact  that  when  men  maintain 
views  inherited  fi'om  their  ancestors,  and  which  accord 
with  their  inclinations,  they  never  allow  the  possibility 
of  theu'  being  wrong  to  trouble  them ;  and  they  care 
not  to  inquire  into  the  grounds  of  such  views,  lest  such 
inquiry  lead  to  a  detection  of  their  error,  and  consequent 
mortification  of  their  pride.  They  love  theu'  opinions, 
of  whatever  natm^e  they  are,  and  they  cleave  to  them, 
acting  on  the  principle :  "  My  opinions,  may  they  al- 
ways be  right ;  but  my  opinions,  right  or  wrong." 

But  let  us  see  fi'om  the  reading  of  Grenesis  9  :  25,  26, 
27,  and  from  certain  historical  circumstances,  whethei' 
that  is  a  fair  interpretation  which  applies  that  prophecy 
to  the  African  race  : 

"  And  Noah  awoke  from  his  wine,  and  knew  what  his  younger  son  had 
done  unto  him.  And  he  said  :  '  Cursed  be  Canaan  ;  a  servant  of  servants 
shall  he  be  unto  his  brethren.'  And  he  said :  '  Blessed  be  the  Lord  God  of 
Shem ;  and  Canaan  shall  be  his  servant.  God  shall  enlarge  Japheth,  and 
he  shall  dwell  in  the  tents  of  Shem  ;  and  Canaan  shall  be  his  servant.' " 

Now  it  seems  to  us  that  the  most  natural  inference 
which  a  candid  reader  would  make  from  this  passage 
is,  that  the  curse  was  denounced  against  Ham  in  that 
branch  of  his  posterity  which  descended  from  Canaan. 
To  establish  the  hypothesis  that  the  cm^se  includes  all 
the  posterity  of  Ham,  it  appears  to  us  necessaiy  that 
one  of  three  things  be  proved  to  have  been  the  fact. 
First.  It  must  be  proved  that  the  curse  was  pronounced 


36  Liberia's  offering. 

upon  Ham  liinisolf ;  or,  secondly,  that  it  was  pro- 
nounced upon  eacli  of  liis  sons  individually ;  or,  third- 
ly, if  pronounced  upon  Canaan,  that  he  was  the  only 
ofis23riug  of  Ham.  But  we  know  that  no  one  of  these 
was  the  fact :  Avhence  the  inference  is  obvious.  The 
question  we  now  propose  to  consider  is  not  whether  it 
is  agreeable  to  our  ideas  of  justice  that  the  offender. 
Ham,  should  escape,  and  the  punishment  be  inflicted 
upon  one  of  his  sons ;  but  whether  there  exist  any  just 
grounds,  apart  fi'om  the  reading  of  oui'  version,  for  the 
conclusion  that  the  malediction  was  uttered  against 
Canaan,  and  was  restricted  in  its  influence  to  his  pos- 
terity. 

It  is  said  that  "  Noah  awoke  from  his  wine,  and  knew 
what  his  younger  son  had  done  unto  him."  Hebraists 
tell  us  that  the  word  rendered  younger  often  means,  in 
the  original,  little^  and  may  be  so  rendered  here.  Some 
of  the  Jewish  commentators  on  this  passage  say  that 
Canaan,  the  little  son,  or  grandson  of  Noah,  first  discov- 
ered his  father's  nakedness,  and  told  it  to  his  father 
Ham,  who  informed  Shem  and  Japheth.  When  Noah 
awoke,  knoA\dng  what  his  younger^  or  little^  son  had 
done  unto  him,  he  said :  "  Cm'sed  be  Canaan,  a  servant 
of  servants  shall  he  be  unto  his  brethren."  Other  He- 
brew scholars,  wishing  to  disprove  the  explanation  of 
the  Rabbins,  and  thus  include  Ham,  mth  all  his  pos- 
terity under  the  curse,  tell  us  that  the  prophecy  is  wi4t- 
ten  in  Hebrew  verse,  and,  according  to  the  usual  licenses 
in  poetical  composition,  is  ellij^tical :  that  for  the  com- 
pletion of  the  sentence,  Ham  the  father  of  must  be  sup- 
j^lied  in  every  instance  before  the  word  Canaan ;  and 
that  this  phrase  has  been  supplied  in  some  of  the  Greek 
copies  of  the  Old  Testament.  With  this  addition,  the 
sentence  would  stand,  "  Cursed  he  Ham  the  father  of 


Liberia's  offering.  87 

Canaan^''  etc.,  according  to  wliicli  reading,  Ham  would 
really  be  the  subject  of  tlie  malediction. 

But  tliey  supply  tLis  ellipsis,  because,  rejecting  the 
liypotliesis  of  the  Rabbins,  and  supposing,  as  the  read- 
ing of  our  version  implies,  that  it  was  Ham  who  dis- 
covered the  nakedness  of  Noah,  they  contend  that  it 
would  have  been  unjust  to  have  punished  Canaan  for 
the  iniquity  of  his  father.  But  would  there  have  been 
any  thing  more  unjust  in  this,  than  in  other  instances  in 
which  God  has  visited  the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  upon 
their  imi3enitent  children  ?  Does  not  Jehovah  speak  of 
himself  as  "  visiting  the  iniquity  of  the  fathers  uj^on 
the  childi'en  unto  the  thii'd  and  fourth  generation  of 
them  that  hate  him  "  ?  The  dying  patriarch  Jacob,  pre- 
dicting the  future  condition  of  his  sons,  declared  to 
Reuben  his  first-bom,  whose  crime  he  particularized, 
"  Unstable  as  water,  thou  shalt  not  excel ;"  of  Simeon 
and  Levi,  in  consequence  of  their  sins,  he  said :  "  I  will 
divide  them  in  Jacob,  and  scatter  them  in  Israel." 
(Genesis  49.)  But  these  cm'ses  were  intended  to  fall 
mth  theii'  fall  weight,  not  uj)on  the  persons  of  Reuben, 
Simeon,  and  Levi,  but  upon  their  posterity.  Witness 
the  case  of  Ahab,  whose  accumulated  and  aggravated 
iniquities  incensed  the  God  of  Israel  against  him.  The 
sacred  historian  informs  us  that,  after  the  prophet  had 
threatened  him  with  the  judgments  of  God  for  his 
transgressions,  he  showed  signs  of  repentance,  where- 
upon the  word  of  the  Lord  came  to  Elijah  the  Tishbite, 
sajang :  "  Seest  thou  how  Ahab  humbleth  himself  be- 
fore me  \  because  he  humbleth  himself  before  me,  I  will 
not  bring  the  evil  in  his  days :  but  in  his  son's  days  mU 
I  bring  the  evil  upon  his  house."    (1  Kings  21  :  28,  29.) 

The  Jews  in  the  time  of  our  Saviom',  seem  to  have 
regarded  it  as  a  common  principle  in  the  Divine  opera- 


38  Liberia's  offebing. 

tions  to  "sdsit  the  iniquity  of  parents  upon  tlieir  cliild- 
ren ;  lience,  tlieir  question  ^vitli  reference  to  tlie  man 
"  blind  from  liis  bii'th."  (John  9.)  But  even  if  this 
piinciple  were  not  manifest  in  the  Di^dne  dealings, 
would  it  be  any  more  unjust  in  the  "  Judge  of  all  the 
earth,"  to  punish  Canaan  for  the  iniquity  of  his  father, 
than  to  proscribe  Esau  from  his  rights  and  privileges 
before  he  was  born  ;  and,  therefore,  before,  as  the  Apos- 
tle says,  he  had  done  either  good  or  evil  ?  There  are, 
however,  grounds  within  the  reach  of  careful  investiga- 
tion, not  incompatible  with  the  nature  and  attributes  of 
God,  upon  which  a  satisfactory  disposition  may  be 
made  of  these  apparent  difficulties. 

But  a  rejection  of  the  ellipsis  contended  for  by  some, 
is  not  essential  to  the  maintaining  of  our  position,  for  if 
we  admit  the  ellij^sis,  it  does  not  appear  why  the 
patriarch  shoidd  have  designated  Ham,  who  had  several 
sons,  as  the  father  of  Canaan  any  more  than  as  the 
father  of  any  other  of  his  sons,  unless  it  be  that  the  in- 
dividual is  mentioned  in  connection  mth  Ham,  whom 
the  curse  is  intended  to  affect,  and  to  whom  it  was  re- 
stricted. "  Canaan  alone  in  his  descendants  is  cursed, 
and  Ham  only  in  that  branch  of  his  posterity."*  The 
curse  upon  Canaan  was  properly  a  curse  upon  the  Ca- 
naanites.  God,  foreseeing  the  wickedness  of  this  peo- 
ple, commissioned  Noah  to  pronounce  a  curse  upon 
them,  and  to  devote  them  to  servitude  and  misery, 
which  their  common  vices  and  iniquities  would  deserve. 
And  this  account  was  plainly  written  by  Moses,  for  the 
encouragement  of  the  Israelites,  to  support  and  animate 
them  in  their  expedition  against  a  people  who,  by  their 
sins,  had  forfeited  the  divine  23rotection,  and  were  des- 
tined to  slavery  fi'om  the  days  of  Noah.f    "  It  follows," 

*  Richard  Watson. 
f  Bishop  Newton's  Dmeriaiioixs  on  the  Prophecies. 


libeeia's  offering.  39 

says  Eichard  Watson,  "  tliat  the  subjugation  of  tlie  Ca- 
naanitisli  races  fulfills  the  prophecy." 

Let  us  now  notice  the  events  that  transpired  after 
the  curse,  and  as  recorded  in  sacred  and  profane  history. 
The  descendants  of  Canaan  peopled  that  region  of  coun- 
tiy  extending  along  the  eastern  coast  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean. The  posterity  of  Cush,  the  eldest  son  of  Ham, 
it  is  agreed,  spread  over  a  great  portion  of  Southern 
Asia,  and  first  peopled  the  countries  to  the  south  of 
Egypt,  Nubia  and  Abyssinia,  and  parts  further  to  the 
south  and  west ;  Mizraim,  the  second  son  of  Ham,  is 
said  to  have  been  the  father  of  the  Egyptians.  A  few 
hundi'ed  years  after  the  utterance  of  Noah's  malediction, 
we  find  Jehovah  himself  utteiing  a  prediction,  strangely 
at  variance  with  the  malediction,  if  the  hypothesis  that 
it  included  Ham  and  all  his  posterity  be  coiTect. 

God  said  to  Abraham,  the  father  of  the  Jewish  na- 
tion, who  were  descendants  of  Shem :  "  Know  of  a 
surety  that  thy  seed  shall  be  a  stranger  in  a  land  that 
is  not  theii's  (in  Egypt)  and  shall  serve  them ;  and 
they  (the  posterity  of  Ham)  shall  afflict  them  four  hun- 
dred years."  (Genesis  15.)  Every  one  knows  the 
severe  bondage  which  the  Israelites  endured  in  Egy|3t 
under  the  Egyptians.  The  Egyptians  were  the  de- 
scendants of  Ham ;  the  Jews,  the  descendants  of  Shem ; 
the  Jews  were  in  servitude  to  the  Egyptians,  therefore 
Shem  was  the  servant  of  Ham — a  palpable  reversion  of 
the  malediction,  if  it  be  true  that  it  included  all  the 
posterity  of  Ham. 

Again :  Shishak,  King  of  Egypt,  a  descendant  of 
Ham,  subdued  Rehoboam,  King  of  Judah,  a  descendant 
of  Shem,  (1  Kings  14  :  25.)  It  is  said  that  Sesostris, 
King  of  Egypt,  conquered  a  gi-eat  part  of  Euroj^e  and 
Asia.     Here  are  instances  of  Ham's  prevailing  over  both 


40  libeeia's  offering. 

Sliem  and  Japlietli.  For  a  long  time  after  the  emanci- 
pation of  the  Israelites  from  Egy])t,  and  even  after  they 
had  established  themselves  and  gotten  a  name  in  Ca- 
naan, the  Egyptians  exercised  a  considerable  influence 
over  their  affairs,  both  political  and  religious.  Even 
doAvn  to  the  days  of  King  Solomon  was  this  Eg}^3tian 
influence  felt  among  the  Jews,  and  King  Solomon,  the 
wisest  of  monarchs,  was  so  afi^ected  by  it,  as  to  violate 
the  conunands  of  God,  in  order  to  obey  its  dictates.  (1 
Kings  10  :  28,  29 ;  Deut.  17  :  IG.)  In  all  this  does 
Shem  appear  to  be  iniling  Ham  ?  No  ;  it  was  not  the 
intention  of  the  malediction  that  either  Mizraim  or 
Cush,  whose  descendants  peopled  Africa,  should  be  a 
servant  of  servants  to  Shem  ;  but  it  did  intend  that  the 
descendants  of  Canaan,  whom  it  distinctly  mentions, 
should  be  so  related  to  Shem ;  and  hence,  when  the 
cup  of  iniquity  of  the  Canaanites  was  full,  when,  by 
their  own  mckeduess,  they  had  merited  subjugation 
and  extiipation,  God  brought  forth  the  people  whom 
he  designed  as  the  executors  of  his  judgments,  fi'om 
Egyptian  bondage,  and  led  them  into  Canaan  ;  and,  as 
a  guarantee  to  them  (for  they  were  ignorant  and  timid 
emancij)ated  slaves)  that  they  should  overcome  the 
"  giants,  the  sons  of  Anak,  in  whose  sight  they  were  as 
grasshoppers,"*  he  dfrected  Moses  to  record  the  male- 
diction :  "  Cursed  be  Canaan,  a  servant  of  servants  shall 
he  be  unto  his  brethren." 

The*poor  Israelites,  full  of  the  mental  and  physical 
effects  of  slavery,  doubtless  apj^roached  the  confines  of 
the  Canaanites,  with  tremulous  steps,  in  ^dew  of  con- 
flicts with  a  formidable  people,  for  which  they,  mere 
slaves,  or  the  oflsj)ring  of  slaves,  felt  entirely  unpre- 
pared.    But  as  they  thus  trembled,  theii'  minds  were 

*  Numbers  13  :  83. 


Liberia's  offering.  41 

directed  to  tlie  j)redietion :  "  A  servant  of  servants 
sliall  Canaan  be  unto  liis  brethren."  Not  a  servant  of 
princes ;  not  a  servant  of  warriors ;  but  a  servant  of 
servants — of  persons  precisely  in  theii'  condition.  How 
peculiarly  adapted  to  tliem  was  sucli  a  proj)liecy  at  tliat 
time !  How  encouraging,  as,  "  on  tlie  borders  of  tlie 
Jordan,  they 

— —  "  lingered,  shivering, 
And  feared  to  launch  away." 

They  are  animated ;  they  cross  the  Jordan ;  city  after 
city  of  the  Canaanites  falls  before  them ;  tribe  after 
tribe  is  subdued;  until,  obtaining  possession  of  the 
whole  land,  they  reduce  the  Canaanites  either  to 
slavery  or  extermination.  Thus  was  the  prediction  of 
Noah  falfilled.  Shem,  himself  a  servant,  makes  a  serv- 
ant of  Canaan,  literally  verifying  the  prophecy :  "  A 
servant  of  servants  shall  he  be  unto  his  brethren."  In 
mercy,  then,  to  the  Jews  of  old,  was  this  prophecy 
recorded,  and  not  to  afford  grounds  to  prejudiced  and 
avaricious  men  for  ensla^dng  a  people  to  whom  it  has 
no  more  reference  than  it  has  to  the  descendants  of 
Jaj^heth. 

The  fact  that,  in  modern  times,  Africans  have  been 
extensively  enslaved  by  other  races,  is  no  argument  in 
favor  of  the  hyj)othesis,  which  makes  them  subjects  of 
the  malediction ;  for  other  peoples,  in  other  parts  of 
the  world,  have  also  been  and  are  now  enslaved.* 

*  A  Constantinople  correspondent  of  the  London  Morning  Chronicle  wrote  to 
that  paper,  in  1854,  as  follows: 

"  When  I  last  wrote,  I  forgot  to  inclose  you  the  Imperial  firmans  issued  by  the 
Sultan  for  the  suppression  of  the  slave-trade.  They  read  very  well,  and  would 
tend  to  persuade  strangers  that  this  trafiSc  is  really  on  the  point  of  being  put  a 
stop  to.  The  promulgation  and  execution  of  a  law  are  two  very  different  things 
in  Turkey.  The  public  slave-market  of  Constantinople  has  ceased  to  exist  for  some 
years,  but  the  slave-trade  has  not  diminished.  The  same  number  are  bought  and 
sold  ad  libitum.    The  only  difference  is,  that  the  slave-merchant  has  his  private 


42  Liberia's  offerixg. 

There  are  other  causes  than  the  curse  pronounced  upon 
Canaan,  to  which  the  enslavement  of  Africans  may  be 
and  should  be  refeiTed. 

EEASONS   FOR   THE   PRESENT   CONDmON    OF  AFRICANS. 

The  affau's  of  nations,  as  of  individuals,  it  must  be 
admitted,  are  constantly  beneath  the  immediate  observ- 
ation and  control  of  Jehovah,  who  "  doeth  according  to 
his  will  in  the  anny  of  heaven  and  among  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  eai*th."  His  name,  as  proclaimed  by  him- 
self, is,  "  The  Lord  God,  merciful  and  gracious,  long- 
suffering,  AND  ABUNDANT  IN  GOODNESS  AND  TRUTH 
KEEPING  IMERCY  FOR  THOUSANDS,  FORGIVING  INIQUITY 
AND  TRANSGRESSION  AND  SIN,  AND  THAT  WILL  BY  NO 
JIEANS    CLEAR   THE    GUILTY."       In   the    CaSC    of    HO    othcT 

people  has  the  Almighty  more  clearly  manifested  this 
sublime  character,  in  every  featm'e  of  it,  than  in  the 
case  of  Afi'icans.  He  will  hy  no  means  clea/r  the  guilty. 
Even  in  those  upon  whom  he  has  set  his  love  will  he 
not  tolerate  transgression.  Does  Jacob,  the  Israel  of 
God,  commit  sin  ?  Notice  his  subsequent  years,  and 
see  in  their  numerous  and  painful  vicissitudes,  in  his 
frequent  anxieties,  fears  and  distresses  —  evidences  of 
God's  displeasui'e — castigations  for  his  iniquities.  Wit- 
ness the  sin  of  David,  and  his  subsequent  sufferings. 
Mark  also  the  case  of  Solomon  and  others ;  all  of  which 

dwelling.  The  promulgation  of  the  firman  may  have  some  slight  influence,  but  it 
will  be  very  slight ;  and  it  is,  therefore,  as  well  to  say  so,  and  expose  how  dust  is 
thrown  into  the  eyes  of  the  European  public.  ...  As  regards  the  sale  and  pur- 
chase of  slaves  in  Circassia,  the  desire  and  ambition  of  a  Circassian  girl  is  to  be 
sold  at  Constantinople.  She  has  a  chance  if  she  is  beautiful,  of  becoming  Sultana, 
or  one  of  the  Sultanas,  or  at  least  she  flatters  herself  that  her  good  looks  will  open 
to  her  the  harem  of  some  opulent  Pacha.  It  must  not  be  disguised  tliat  our 
endeavors  to  suppress  the  Circassian  slave-trade,  though  no  doubt  meritorious,  and 
founded  on  motives  of  philanthropy,  will  be  regarded  in  a  very  different  light  by 
the  Circassians,  and  gain  us  many  an  enemy  amongst  them." 


libeeia's  offering.  43 

testify  to  tlie  fact  tliat  suffering  is  consequent  upon  sin. 
Indeed,  there  is  no  truth  more  clearly  taught  in  the 
book  of  divine  revelation,  and  none  more  abundantly 
attested  in  the  history  and  experience  of  man,  than 
that  punishment  is  inseparable  from  crime.  God  has 
so  arranged  things ;  he  has  so  established  the  laws  both 
of  the  physical  and  moral  world,  that  they  can  not  be 
violated  with  impunity.  If  the  violator  of  the  moral 
law  appear  not  outwardly  to  suffer,  yet  he  can  not 
effectually  shut  out  from  his  heart  that  deep  remorse, 
and  those  mental  distresses  which  have  torment,  and 
which  are  said  to  be  the  forebodings  .of  the  "worm 
that  never  dies."  And  this  connection  of  punishment 
with  crime  has  been  noticed  by  observing  and  reflect- 
ing men  of  all  ages  and  countries,  whether  possessing 
the  light  of  revelation  or  not.  Notice  the  words  of 
Horace  :* 

"  Raro  antecedentem  scelestum 
Deseruit  pede  Poena  claudo." 

These  lines  imply  that  though  the  "  execution  of  sen- 
tence against  an  evil  work  "  may  be  delayed,  yet  it  will 
certainly  overtake  the  criminal.  Punishment  is  repre- 
sented as  "  slow  of  foot,"  yet  steadily  pursuing  the 
offender.  And  this  law  of  the  moral  world  is  not  con- 
fined to  cases  of  individuals.  Nations  sometimes  in- 
fringe this  law,  and  as  nations  they  suffer.  Illustra- 
tions of  this  fact  are  numerous  in  the  world's  history  • 
from  the  eating  of 

"  The  fruit 

Of  that  forbidden  tree,  whose  mortal  taste 
Brought  death  into  the  world,  and  all  our  woe," 

down  to  the  present  time.  Witness  the  destiniction  of 
the  cities  of  the  plain  of  Sodom ;  the  extermination  of 

*  Another  Roman  writer  gays :  "  Sera  tamen  tacitis  poena  venit  pedibus." 


44  Liberia's  offering. 

tlie  nations  of  Canaan ;  tlie  wholesale  submersion  and 
extii'i)ation  of  tlie  Egyptians  in  the  Red  Sea ;  tlie  dis- 
persion and  denationalization  of  the  Israelites ;  the 
diminished  and  diminishino;  numbers  of  the  Indians  of 
North-America;  and  lastly,  the  enslavement  of  Afri- 
cans— all  the  effects  of  sin. 

For  thousands  of  years  has  Africa  been  without  a 
knowledge  of  God.  While  the  Egyptians  excelled  all 
other  nations  in  their  acquaintance  with  and  cultivation 
of  the  arts  and  sciences,  they  were  destitute  of  the  true 
wisdom.  They,  as  well  as  other  Africans,  evidently,  at 
one  time,  possessed  a  knowledge  of  the  true  God,  but 
they  neglected  it ;  and  in  this  consists  theii*  crime,  that 
when  they  knew  God,  "  they  glorified  him  not  as  God, 
neither  were  thankful ;  they  did  not  like  to  retain  God 
in  their  knowledge  ;"  therefore  "  God  gave  them  over  to 
a  reprobate  mind,  to  do  those  things  which  are  not 
convenient ;"  and  they  fell  into  all  that  enonnity  and 
blackness  of  crime  which  the  Apostle  so  graphically 
dej^icts  in  the  first  chaj)ter  of  Romans.  And  if  such 
was  theu'  character  in  the  Apostle's  days  —  two  thou- 
sand years  ago  —  what  must  it.  be  now  when  we  con- 
sider that  human  nature  left  to  itself  never  ameliorates, 
but  grows  worse  and  worse.  What  an  a^vful  pictm'e 
of  depravity  and  wickedness  must  present  itself  to  the 
pure  eye  of  Jehovah !  —  depravity  and  wickedness 
which,  brought  on  by  the  voluntary  acts  of  the  fathers, 
have  been  copied  and  improved  uj)on  by  the  chikfren. 

Now  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  would  have  done  no 
injustice  to  the  Africans  had  he  left  them  to  pm^sue  the 
course  of  wickedness  entered  uj^on  by  their  fathers,  and 
persevered  in  by  themselves,  until,  filling  up  the  cup 
of  their  iniquity,  they  had  rendered  themselves  fit  ves- 
sels of  his  wrath.     But  he  determined  otherwise  with 


Liberia's  offering.  45 

respect  to  tliis  portion  of  tlie  descendants  of  Ham ;  and 
even  while  iniquity,  like  a  dense  cloud,  blackened 
tkeii'  moral  atmosphere.  He,  the  "  Lord  God,  mercifal 
and  gracious,  long-suffering  and  abundant  in  goodness 
and  tratk,"  gave  promises  with  reference  to  their  -wicked 
land.  "  Princes  shall  come  out  of  Egypt ;  Ethiopia 
shall  soon  stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God."  (Psalm 
68  :  31.)  "  From  beyond  the  rivers  of  Ethioj)ia  my 
suppliants,  even  the  daughter  of  my  dispersed,  shall 
bring  mine  offering."     (Zeph.  3  :  10.) 

But  Ethiopia  is  guilty.  The  guilt  of  centuries  over- 
spreads the  whole  land,  so  aggravated  and  horrible  that 
there  can  be  no  communication  between  its  inhabitants 
and  the  King  of  kings.  No  one  of  the  countless  mul- 
titudes is  seeking  for  God ;  no  one  is  asking  after  his 
Maker.  The  Almighty,  therefore,  in  keeping  with  his 
character  of  "  by  no  means  clearing  the  guilty,"  deter- 
mines to  teach  the  inhabitants  of  this  dark  land  "  rigjht- 
eousness"  by  fii'st  sending  his  "judgments"  among 
them.  He  suffers  them  to  be  earned  into  captivity  in 
fulfillment  of  a  prophecy  recorded  in  Isaiah  18  : 1,  2  : 
"  Woe  to  the  land  shadowing  with  wings,  which  is 
beyond  the  rivers  of  Ethiopia :  that  sendeth  aml^assa- 
dors  by  the  sea,  even  in  vessels  of  bulrashes  upon  the 
waters.  Go,  ye  swift  messengers,  to  a  nation  scattered 
and  peeled,  to  a  people  temble  from  their  beginning 
hithei'to ;  a  nation  meted  out  and  trodden  down,  whose 
land  the  rivers  have  spoiled."  For  years  has  He,  in  his 
sovereign  justice,  permitted  the  cruel  traffic  in  African 
slaves  to  be  perpetrated  with  the  utmost  cruelty  on  the 
part  of  the  traders,  and  unprecedented  suffering  on  the 
j^art  of  the  poor  African ;  so  that  in  numerous  instances 
death  has  seemed  preferable  to  life.  And  even  at  this 
moment  poor  Africans  are  groaning  beneath  intolera- 


46  Liberia's  offering. 

ble  Liu'dens  either  of  physical  maltreatment  or  of 
mental  depression  and  degradation.  Agreeably  to  the 
projihecy,  we  are,  indeed,  "  a  nation  scattered  and  peeled, 
meted  out  and  trodden  do^\Ti,"  reaping,  however,  the 
fniits  of  om*  own  doings. 

But  in  the  chapter  in  Isaiah  just  quoted,  there  is  a 
glorious  promise  to  the  scattered  people  —  a  promise 
like  shining  borders  to  a  black  and  thi'eatening  cloud. 
Mark  the  passage,  verse  seventh,  "  In  that  time,"  the 
time  of  theii*  enthrallment,  "shall  the  present  be 
l)rought  imto  the  Lord  of  hosts  of  a  people  scattered 
and  peeled,  and  from  a  people  tenible  from  their  begin- 
nino-  hitherto ;  a  nation  meted  out  and  trodden  under 
foot,  whose  land  the  rivers  have  spoiled,  to  the  place  of 
the  name  of  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  mount  of  Zion."* 
Are  not  these  prophecies  coming  to  pass?  Are  not 
Africans  "  meted  out  and  trodden  do^vn,"  though  they 
are  bringing  "  presents  unto  the  Lord  of  hosts,"  in  the 
land  of  theii*  capti\dty  ?  Yes,  it  is  matter  of  thankful- 
ness that,  in  the  land  of  thefr  oppression,  and  in  the 
very  depths  of  their  affliction,  the  Most  High,  who  "  is 
no  respecter  of  persons,"  has  condescended  to  visit  this 
people,  and  despite  the  efforts  of  their  oppressors  to 
del)ar  them  from  the  light  of  science,  God  has  revealed 
unto  them  the  "  time  Light ;"  while  they  have  been  di-iv- 
en  away  from  the  streams  of  earthly  learning,  they  have 
been  welcomed  to  the  very  fountain  of  Knowledge, 
whence  they  have  had  large  and  "liberal"  draughts, 
^vithout  upbraidings.  The  Holy  Spii'it  has  discovered 
to  them  theii'  guilt  as  transgressors  of  the  divine  law, 
and  has  led  them,  bm-dened  mth  the  load  of  sin,  to 
the  foot  of  the  same  cross  to  which  others  resort,  where 

*  Such  an  application  of  this  prophecy  is  objected  to  by  some,  but  no  satisfac- 
tory reason  is  assigned  why  it  should  not  be  so  applied. 


libekia's  offering.  47 

tliey  have  found  pardon  and  peace  in  believing.  They 
have  been  clothed  with  the  same  robe  of  the  Redeem- 
er's righteousness  with  which  others  are  clothed,  and 
the  same  "  songs  of  praises  "  have  been  put  into  their 
mouths ;  they  have  received  the  same  unerring  "  testi- 
mony "  that  they  are  the  children  of  God,  and  they 
enjoy  the  same  comfortable  assurance  that  if  their 
earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  were  dissolved,  they 
have  a  building  of  God,  an  house  not  made  with  hands, 
eternal  in  the  heavens.  (2  Cor.  5  : 1.)  Are  not  these 
blessings  a  glorious  compensation  for  our  afflictions? 
Are  they  not  the  "  rememberings  of  mercy  in  the  midst 
of  deserved  "wi'ath,"  for  which  it  becomes  us  to  feel 
unfeignedly  thankful  ?  Yes,  there  is  an  inward  "  peace," 
a  "joy  unspeakable,"  which  outward  circumstances  can 
not  affect.  There  is  a  "  liberty  unsung  by  poets,  which 
all  the  j^owers  of  earth  and  hell  confederate  can  not 
take  away."  Such  "peace,"  such  "joy,"  such  "liberty," 
many  a  plantation-slave  enjoys. 

"  The  oppressor  holds 


His  body  bound,  but  knows  not  what  a  range 
His  spirit  takes,  unconscious  of  a  chain  ; 
And  that  to  bind  Mm  is  a  vain  attempt, 
Whom  God  delights  in,  and  in  whom  he  dwells." 

Whenever  we  feel  or  hear  of  the  oppressions,  which 
men  of  another  race  inflict  upon  us,  and  the  miseries  to 
which  they  arrogantly  subject  us,  it  is  natm^al  for  feel- 
ings of  indignation  to  arise  within  us  against  those  who 
are  the  immediate  cause  of  such  sufferings ;  since  we 
know  that  they,  to  gratify  i3ride,  prejudice,  or  malignity, 
afflict  us;  not  designing  good,  but  evil.  But  when, 
upon  reflection,  we  look  upon  all  evils  as  under  the 
control  of  God,  going  no  fm'ther  than  he  permits  them 
to  go ;  and  when  we  consider  what  have  been  our  de- 


48  Liberia's  offering. 

merits  as  a  people,  and  that,  notmtlistanding  tlieir 
enormity,  God  lias  been  merciful  to  us,  we  can  not  but 
be  grateful.  "  He  lias  not  dealt  witli  us  after  our  sins, 
neither  rewarded  us  according,  to  our  iniquities."  He 
has  not  dealt  so  with  any  nation.  Witness  his  dealings 
with  the  Canaanites.  Pie  suffered  the  cup  of  theii"  ini- 
quity to  become  full,  and  then  caused  them  to  diink 
the  very  di^egs  thereof,  consigning  them  to  the  "  black- 
ness of  darkness  forever."  Witness  the  fearful  judg- 
ments which  have  befallen  the  North- American  Indians. 
They  have  not  suffered  slavery,  but  theii'  iniquities 
have  been  more  severely  visited  than  those  of  the  Afi"i- 
cans.  They  have  melted  away  under  the  retributive 
visitations  of  the  Judge  of  all  the  earfli,  lea\dng  no 
name  behind  them ;  perishing  in  their  iniquities  with- 
out the  blessings  of  the  Gospel.  But  om'  case  has  been 
different.  Canied  away  from  home  to  a  distant  land, 
and  subjected  to  a  slavery  of  the  most  cruel  kind,  we 
have  survived.  We  still  retain  our  distinct  character 
as  a  people,  so  that  it  may  be  said  of  us,  as  of  the  Is- 
raelites in  Egy^^t :  "  The  more  they  afflicted  them  the 
more  they  multiplied  and  grew."  (Exodus  1  :  12.) 
And  may  not  this  fact,  so  mysterious  to  many,  be  solved 
by  the  consideration  that  that  all- wise  and  merciful 
Providence,  which  has  watched  over  us  in  all  om'  afflic- 
tions, preserves  us  for  a  glorious  future  destiny  ?  There 
is  now  a  prospect  that,  like  the  Jews,  we  shall  return 
from  our  grievous  bondage  to  the  land  given  to  oui* 
fathers.  A  small  number  have  already  retm'ned — the 
precursors  of  a  powei'^ul  exodus  —  bearing  -with  them 
spoils  infinitely  richer  an  Egyptian  treasure,  even  the 
blessings  of  civilization  \,nd  of  the  Christian  religion. 
But  we  retm'n  not  as  the.  executors  of  God's  wrath. 
No  ;  we  bear  no  such  feailftd  message  to  Africa.     We 


Liberia's  offering.  49 

come  as  tlie  almoners  of  Heaven's  blessings,  not  to  ex- 
temiinate  tlie  inhabitants  of  tlie  land,  but  to  root  up 
and  destroy  tlieir  iniquities.  We  come  to  demolish  the 
kingdom  of  Satan,  and  to  establish  that  kingdom  which 
consists  in  righteousness  and  peace  and  "  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost:"  subjection  to  whose  Sovereign  elevates  and 
dignifies  human  nature  ;  confemng  a  liberty, 

" which  persecution,  fraud, 


Oppressions,  prisons,  have  no  power  to  bind ; 
Which  whoso  tastes  can  be  enslaved  no  more — 
'Tis  liberty  of  heart,  derived  from  heaven." 

But  let  it  not  for  one  moment  be  supposed  that,  because 
we  hold  that  our  oj)pressions  and  afflictions  are  under 
the  immediate  pennission  of  God,  therefore  we  justify 
our  oppressors  in  theii'  cruel  treatment  of  us.  By  no 
means.  We  hold  that  all  men,  with  respect  to  each 
other,  are  born  equally  fi'ee,  having  the  same  "  inalien- 
able right  to  life,  liberty,  and  property ;"  and  that  they 
who,  by  reason  of  superior  power,  assmned  authority, 
or  for  any  other  cause  deprive  their  fellow-men  of  those 
rights,  are  robbers,  in  the  strictest  sense  of  that  word, 
and,  as  such,  are  guilty  and  fearfully  responsi1)le  to  the 
"  Judge  of  all  the  Earth."  We  indorse  the  sentiment 
of  Wordsworth,  that 

"  Our  life  is  turned 
Out  of  its  course,  whenever  Man  is  made 
An  offering,  or  a  sacrifice,  a  tool. 
Or  implement,  a  passive  thing  employed 
As  a  brute  mean,  without  acknowledgment 
Of  common  right  or  interest  in  the  end." 

They  who  m*ge  the  malediction  of  Noah,  to  justify 
themselves  in  metamorphosing  a  whole  race  of  men  into 
"offerings,"    "sacrifices,"    "  tools*,"    "implements,"    are 


50  libekia's  offering. 

nuclei'  a  iiital  liallucination  wliicli,  unless  they  discover 
it  in  time  for  repentance,  will  sink  them  "  deeper  tlian 
the  grave."  They  have  made  themselves  the  executor? 
of  God's  judgments,  and  that  not  from  a  desii'e  to  glori- 
fy him,  but  to  indulge  a  ci-iiniual  avarice,  which  is 
gratified  only  by  the  veiy  life-blood  of  the  African. 
An  American  di^'ine,*  who  hates  oppression  ^dth  a 
perfect  hatred,  used  the  follo-s^Ting  strong  language,  on 
this  subject,  in  a  discoui'se  preached  in  New- York  City, 
October  20,  1856  : 

"  You  pretend  to  be,  by  charter  from  Heaven,  the  ndnisters  of  God's 
vengeance  against  a  whole  continent  of  men  —  a  whole  race  of  mankind  — 
whom,  in  the  execution  of  that  vengeance,  you  are  to  hold  and  sell  as  j'our 
property.  You  are  the  trustees  of  this  will  of  Jehovah,  the  executors  of 
this  inheritance  of  wrath,  and  as  such  you  are  to  be  paid  for  your  trouble  in 
proving  the  instrument,  and  carrying  its  details  into  operation,  by  assuming 
the  objects  of  the  curse  as  your  property.  Where  is  the  sentence  in  which 
God  ever  appointed  you,  the  Anglo-Saxon  race,  you,  the  mixture  of  all  races 
under  heaven  ;  you,  who  can  not  tell  whether  the  blood  of  Shem,  Ham,  or 
Japheth  mingles  in  your  veins ;  you,  the  asserters  of  a  right  to  traffic  in 
human  flesh ;  you,  worse  than  the  Jews,  by  this  very  claim  more  degraded, 
more  debased  in  your  moral  principles,  than  the  lowest  tribes  of  Jews  ever 
swept  for  their  sins  from  the  Promised  Land ;  where  is  the  sentence  in 
which  God  ever  appointed  you,  foui*  thousand  years  after  Noah  and  his 
children  had  gone  to  their  graves  in  peace,  to  be  the  executors  of  Noah's 
will,  with  the  whole  inheritance  given  to  you  as  your  property,  for  your 
profit,  the  reward  of  your  faithfulness  in  fulfilling  God's  curse  ?  Where  is 
the  designation  of  the  race  whom  you  pounce  upon  by  this  mighty  forgery, 
and  where  the  designation  of  the  race  commissioned  to  pounce  upon  tTiem  ? 
You  might  as  well  go  to  Russia  and  take  the  subjects  of  the  Czar.  You 
might  as  well  go  to  England  and  take  your  cousins  of  the  sea-girt  isle,  the 
descendants  of  your  own  great-grandfathers.  You  have  no  more  claim  upon 
the  Africans  than  you  have  upon  the  Aborigines  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains." 

The  assiunptions  of  some  of  the  Anglo-Saxons  with 
reference  to  the  African  race,  are  surely  unwarrantable. 
They  stultify  history,  sacred  and  profane,  and  set  uji 

*  Rev.  George  B.  Cheever,  D.D. 


Liberia's  offering.  51 

theological  and  pMlosophical  theories  in  opposition  to 
common-sense,  to  cany  their  point.  But  "  the  days  of 
arbitrary  authority  are  numbered,  and,  even  in  matters 
of  theology,  men  will  think  and  decide  as  fi'ee  and  ra- 
tional beings." 

INTELLECTUAL  OBTUSENESS, 

as  a  result  of  Noah's  malediction,  has  been  attributed 
to  the  African  race,  as  a  whole — a  traducement  which, 
in  consequence  of  the  unfavorable  cu'cumstances  of  the 
race,  has  gained  considerable  cuiTency.  But  when  and 
where  has  this  been  tested  and  proved  ?  Does  it  find 
proof  in  the  case  of  James  McCune  Smith,  the  learned 
and  scientific  colored  physician  of  New- York  ?  Is  it 
established  in  the  case  of  Frederick  Douglass,  formerly 
a  slave,  now  a  celebrated  orator  and  editor  ?  Where 
has  it  been  demonstrated  ?  In  the  cases  of  Daniel  A. 
Payne,  the  African  theologian  and  poet,  of  Cincinnati, 
and  of  J.  M.  Whitfield,  poet  and  editor,  of  Buffalo  ? 
Does  the  remarkable  Miss  Frances  Watkins,  the  poetic 
genius,  of  Baltimore,  afford  an  illustration  ?  Is  there 
furnished  an  instance  in  the  celebrated  Miss  Elizabeth 
Greenfield,  the  musical  genius  of  the  United  States,  and 
the  successful  rival  of  Jenny  Lind  ?  We  might  ask 
similar  questions  with  respect  to  numerous  other  Afri- 
cans, but  time  would  fail  us.* 

*  The  Rev.  John  Leighton  Wilson,  possessed  of  an  extensive  experience  of 
African  character  in  its  barbarous  and  untutored  state,  records  the  following  testi- 
mony :  "  Some  of  the  best  specimens  of  oratory  may  be  heard  in  these  African  as- 
semblies. Their  popular  speakers  show  almost  as  much  skill  in  the  use  of  happy 
illustrations,  striking  analogies,  pointed  argument,  historical  details,  biting  irony,  as 
any  set  of  public  speakers  in  the  world ;  and  for  ease,  grace,  and  naturalness  of 
manner,  they  are  perhaps  unsurpassed." — Western  Africa,  p.  132. 

The  Veys,  though  not  numerous  or  powerful,  have  recently  invented  an  alpha- 
bet for  writing  their  own  language,  and  are  enjoying  the  blessings  of  a  written  svs- 


52  Liberia's  offering. 

They  wlio  cii'culate  the  sLinder  of  negro  intellectual 
obtiiseness,  can  produce  no  cases  that  would  fairly  and 
satisfactorily  establish  their  aspersion.  They  are  our 
oppressors,  and,  taking  us  in  the  midst  of  our  oppres- 
sion, they  fancy  they  see  proofs  of  their  dogma.  They 
find  what  they  regard  as  moral  demonstrations  of  it,  in 
the  cases  of  "  Sambo,"  and  "  Juba,"  and  "  Topsy,"  all 
of  corn-field  bii'th,  rearing,  and  notoriety.  The  induc- 
tive method  of  reasoning  is  not  tolerated  in  their  logic 
with  reference  to  our  race.  Alignments  in  our  favor 
which  would  be  regarded  as  conclusive  in  regard  to  any 
other  race,  are  unceremoniously  discarded.  Isolated 
cases  the  most  unfavorable  are  taken  as  fair  specimens 
of  the  character  of  the  whole  race.  The  intellectual 
and  moral  character  of  the  African  in  freedom  is  infer- 

tem,  for  which  they  are  entirely  indebted  to  their  own  ingenuity  and  enterprise. 
This  is,  undoubtedly,  one  of  the  most  remarkable  achievements  of  this  or  any  other 
age,  and  is  itself  enough  to  silence  forever  the  cavils  and  sneers  of  those  who  think 
so  contemptuously  of  the  intellectual  endowments  of  the  African  race.  The  charac- 
ters used  in  this  system  are  all  new,  and  were  invented  by  the  people  themselves 
within  the  last  twenty  years. — Ibid.  p.  95. 

The  Negro  and  the  Needle. — It  is  not  generally  known  that  for  the  origin  of 
the  needle  manufacture  we  are  indebted  to  the  negro.  The  earliest  record  of 
needle-making  in  England  is  in  the  year  1545,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIIL,  and  it 
is  supposed  that  this  useful  branch  of  industry  was  introduced  by  a  Moor  from 
Spain.  The  historian  Stowe  tells  us  that  needles  were  sold  in  Cheapside  and  other 
busy  streets  in  London  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary,  and  were  at  that  time  made  by 
a  Spanish  negro,  who  refused  to  discover  the  secret  of  his  art.  Another  authority 
states  that  the  art  of  making  steel  needles  was  lost  at  the  negro's  death,  but  was 
afterwards  revived  by  a  German  in  1566.  Probably  these  facts  may  account  for 
the  crest  of  the  needle-makers'  coat-of-arms  being  the  head  of  a  negro. — American 
Paper. 

Mr.  Aaron  Roberts,  a  colored  man  in  Philadelphia,  has  invented  a  valuable  aid 
to  the  fire  department.  It  is  constructed  on  the  principle  of  a  telescope,  occupying 
a  very  small  space  when  closed,  but  capable  of  being  extended  to  a  hight  of  some 
sixty  feet,  by  means  of  concealed  cogs.  Above  this  is  a  branch-pipe,  made  flexible, 
and  worked  in  any  direction  by  chains  reaching  the  ground.  The  machine  can  be 
run  into  a  narrow  alley,  and  by  attaching  a  hose  to  a  fire-plug,  the  water  will  be 
forced  to  the  top,  and  thence  directed  at  the  pleasure  of  the  operator.  Safety  is 
thus  afforded  to  the  firemen,  and  instant  application  may  be  made  to  any  part  of  a 
burning  building. — T/ie  Xational  Magazine,  August,  1856. 


Liberia's  offering.  53 

red  from  wliat  it  is  in  slavery,  as  tliougli  tlie  two  con- 
ditions were  exactly  similar ;  or  as  though  the  African 
were  not,  as  other  men,  influenced  by  circumstances  ;  so 
that  if  the  black  man,  in  the  midst  of  cmel  oppressions, 
of  which  for  centuries  he  has  been  the  subject,  gives 
evidence  of  the  legitimate  influences  of  such  oppres- 
sions, and  does  not  come  forward,  though  fettered  in 
mind  and  body,  and  astonish  the  world  by  inventions 
and  discoveries,  it  follows,  according  to  their  reasoning, 
that,  in  a  condition  free  and  untrammeled,  he  will  be 
both  mentally  and  physically  the  same ;  he  is,  there- 
fore, set  do-wQ  as  belonging  to  an  inferior  order  of 
beings,  fitted  only  for  servitude — ^liberty  and  slavery  in 
theii'  effects  upon  him,  are  synonymous  and  convertible 
terms.  In  judging  of  Anglo-Saxons,  one  set  of  princi- 
ples is  applied ;  in  judging  of  Afr'icans,  another. 

It  can  not  be  truly  afiirmed  that  inferences  proceeding 
on  such  assumj^tions  wait  for  refutation ;  but  those  who 
avail  themselves  of  them  follow  prejudice  more  than 
judgment.  And  so  strongly  does  theii'  prejudice  against 
the  African  bias  their  minds,  that  we  often  find  even 
the  profoundest  of  them  indulging  in  such  one-sided 
argument.  John  C.  Calhoun,  of  South  -  Carolina,  is 
lauded  to  the  skies  by  some,  on  account  of  his  wonder- 
ful powers  of  induction :  and  he  was,  doubtless,  on 
many  subjects,  a  poweiful  inductive  reasoner ;  yet  every 
one  knows  the  bold  and  unblushing  sophistiy  which 
he  employed  with  reference  to  the  African  race.'^" 

Let  the  candid  among  the  enemies  of  our  race,  take, 

*  The  writer  was  refused  admittance  to  a  literary  institution  in  the  United 
States,  on  the  ground  that  the  faculty  had  failed  to  realize  their  expectations  in  one 
or  two  colored  persons  whom  they  had  educated.  The  inductive  reasoning  here 
employed  was,  of  course,  most  conclusive.  Some  colored  persons  abuse  their  edu- 
cation, therefore  all  colored  persons  should  be  excluded  from  institutions  of  learn- 
ing.    The  minor  proposition  is  made  to  contain  the  major.     Excellent  logic  ! 


54  LIBERLV.'S  OFFERING. 

as  far  as  tliey  know,  all  tLe  cases  of  Afiicans,  wlio  have 
enjoyed  any  oppoi*tiiiiities  of  intellectual  develoj^ment 
and  improvement,  and  see  if  the  majority  have  not  pro- 
fitably availed  themselves  of  those  opportimities ;  or 
take  an  African  of  ordinary  mind,  and  a  Caucasian  of 
like  capacity,  place  them  both  under  the  same  instruc- 
tions, "with  equal  pri^Tleges,  and  we  hazard  nothing  by 
sapng  that  the  Caucasian  mil  not  excel  the  Afiican,  if, 
indeed,  he  keep  pace  with  him.  This  has  been  tested, 
and  the  result  has  turned  out  in  favor  of  the  Afiican. 
If,  then,  under  given  circumstances,  the  Caucasian  will 
arrive  at  a  certain  point  of  intellectual  improvement, 
and  under  the  same  circumstances,  as  the  facts  of  -a  fail* 
induction  show,  the  Afiican  ^vill  attain  to  the  same 
point,  where  is  the  absolute  superiority  of  the  Cauca- 
sian ?  Where  is  the  peculiar  mental  obtuseness  of  the 
Afiican  ?     Where  ? 

"  I  have  often  wondered,"  says  our  excellent  President  Benson,*  "  from 
whence  sprang  the  silly  aspersion  of  '  the  incapacity  of  the  colored  race  for 
self-government.'  I  have  frequently  taxed  my  mind  for  a  discovery  of  the 
instances  upon  which  the  stigma  is  based.  With  the  exception  of  our  own, 
Eayti,  I  believe,  is  the  only  professed  colored  civilized  and  independent 
government.  It  is  true,  that  unfortunate  country  has  been  repeatedly  con- 
vulsed by  revolutions  and  dethronements  ;  but  these  have  neither  been  re- 
stricted nor  peculiar  to  her  history ;  similar  causes  have  produced  similar 
effects  among  other  nations,  not  of  African  descent,  but  pm-ely  Caucasian. 
The  South- American  States,  almost  without  exception,  have  been  equally 
prolific  of  civil  wars  and  revolutions ;  in  fact,  we  can  trace  them  even  into 
highly  civiUzed  Europe,  and  as  not  unfrequently  occurring  among  some  of 
the  most  refined  nations  of  that  enlightened  continent ;  nor  would  proud 
Albion  have  been  exempted  from  them,  for  so  long  a  space  as  that  which 
has  succeeded  the  seventeenth  century,  if  the  Protestant  faith,  which  con- 
stitutes the  basis  of  that  righteousness  which  exalts  a  nation,  had  not  taken 
so  deep  root  in  that  country.  And  if  I  mistake  not,  the  same  cause  is  to  be 
assigned  for  the  almost  unparalleled  success  with  which  the  confederate 
States  of  North-America  have  been  crowned,  ....  and  for  lack  of 
which,  Hayti,  in  common  with  some  other  governments,  to  which  allusion 

•  *  Inaugural  Address,  January  'Tth,  1856. 


LIBERIA'S  OFFERING.  55 

has  been  made,  failed  in  demonstrating  an  equal  capacity  for  self-govern- 
ment ;  and  surely  the  civil  wars  of  Hayti  are  no  more  an  argument  (if  as 
much  so)  against  the  capacity  of  the  colored  race  for  self-government,  than 
the  multiplied  revolutions  of  the  other  governments  alluded  to,  are  against 
that  of  the  Caucasian  race," 

AFRICAN   PHYSIOGNOMY. 

The  pliysiognomical  character  of  Africans  is  also 
urged  as  an  argument  in  favor  of  tlie  servile  destiny  of 
tlie  race.  This  being  the  popular  opinion,  the  greatest 
unfamiess  is  generally  practiced  in  the  representations 
which  Caucasian  natui'alists  and  ethnologists  make  of 
African  features.  This  may  aj)pear  a  small  matter,  but 
we  do  not  deem  it  altogether  unworthy  of  notice.  No 
matter  how  men,  in  their  public  opinions,  may  ridicule 
as  absurd  arguments  thus  founded,  yet,  in  theii'  private 
feelings,  they  are  to  a  great  extent  influenced  by  them. 
We  have  observed  that,  generally  in  Geographies  or 
books  on  ethnography,  the  heads  given  as  |)roper  speci- 
mens of  the  African  are  pictures  of  some  degraded 
slaves  of  poor  physical  development ;  while  to  repre- 
sent the  Caucasian  race,  the  head  of  some  philosoj^her, 
or  of  some  very  beautiful  female  is  presented  as  a  fail' 
specimen  of  that  whole  race.  They  give  "  the  Jiigliest 
type  of  the  European  and  the  lowest  type  of  the  negro." 
Now  we  say  this  is  unjust.  That  there  are  irregulari- 
ties in  the  African  features,  is  no  reason  that  in  repre- 
senting them  the  vei^y  worst  should  be  taken  as  speci- 
mens. This  is  done;  however,  to  carry  out  the  idea  of 
phrenological  inferiority  to  the  other  races,  at  least  to 
the  Anglo-Saxon  race.  Hence,  whenever  any  one  of 
this  doomed  people  gives  evidence  of  superior  ability 
and  talents,  the  disposition  is  to  deny  his  connection 
with  the  genuine  negro.  No  candid  and  unprejudiced 
mind  can  read  with  patience  the  unwaiTantable   de- 


56  Liberia's  offering. 

scription  fiirnislied  hy  Mr.  Bowen,  an  American  mis- 
sionary adventurer  on  tliis  coast,  of  wliat  lie  calls  "  tlie 
tnie  or  t;y3)ical  negro."*  It  is  a  pandering  to  prejudices 
entirely  impardonable  in  one  of  liis  profession,  whose 
object  should  be  to  eradicate,  and  not  to  foster  the  seed 
of  error.  And  nothing  is  more  instinctively  ridiculous 
than  his  labored  but  resultless  endeavor  to  prove  that 
all  the  interior  native  tribes  of  regular  and  agreeable 
features,  and  of  favorable  mental  characteristics,  are  the 
descendants  of  Em-opeans.  If  such  are  the  results  of 
his  philosophical  and  scientific  investigations,  it  would 
have  been  more  creditable  to  his  reputation,  and  of  less 
disservice  to  the  cause  of  truth,  to  have  confined  himself 
to  the  reo-ions  of  common-sense. 

But  the  intellectual  character  of  a  race  can  not  faii'ly 
be  argued  fi'om  the  physical  appearance  of  some  of  its 
individuals.  The  external  appearance  is  not  always 
the  index  of  the  intellectual  man.  Notwithstanding 
the  claims  and  pretensions  of  phrenology,  the  old  adage 
should  not  be  neglected :  "  Judge  not  of  things  by  theii* 
outward  appearance."f     All  scientific  wi'iters  on  the 

*  Bowen's  Central  Africa,  chapter  xxiii.  pp.  280,  281.  ■ 

f  "It  was  once  said  that  ' No  good  thing  can  come  out  of  Nazareth ;'  and  it  is 
now  thought  that  the  mere  color  of  the  African  places  him  under  the  general  ban 
of  nations,  and  renders  preposterous  and  absurd  the  idea  that  this  race  could  ever 
have  occupied  a  position  of  dignity,  or  contributed  to  the  general  advancement  of 
the  world.  If  external  aspect  (and  the  assumption  admits  of  triumphant  vindica- 
tion) is  considered  a  mere  accident  of  being,  how  can  it  render  nugatory  all  contra- 
vening evidence  ?  If  so,  then  reason  is  a  cheat,  and  Bacon  and  Newton  were 
sophists  !  Why  the  African  is  black,  I  know  not,  nor  do  I  pause  to  inquire,  any 
more  than  why  you  are  white.  One  is  as  great  a  mystery  to  me  as  the  other.  It 
may  be  the  effect  of  climate  and  condition ;  or,  what  is  much  more  likely,  it  may 
be  a  merciful  arrangement  of  heaven  and  nature,  to  prepare  them  for  residence  and 
suEfering  in  the  hot  intertropical  regions  assigned  them  as  the  bounds  of  their  hab- 
itation. I  do  not  profess  to  be  an  adept  in  the  science  of  climatology,  nor  can  I 
fathom  the  deep  designs  of  Providence.  I  leave  both  to  be  comprehended  and 
explained  by  others.  But  certainly,  if  the  mere  extrinsic  circumstance,  the  adven- 
titious adjunct  of  color  is  to  expel  the  African  from  the  pale  of  humanity,  of  which 


Liberia's  offering.  57 

subject  refer  tlie  pliysical  cliaracter  of  Africans  to  tlie 
climate  in  wliicli  tliey  reside,  and  tlieir  peculiar  mode 
and  custom  of  life.  In  proportion  as  a  peoj)le  is  ele- 
vated, or  its  mode  of  life  cultivated,  tlie  featiu-es  im- 
prove, and  tlie  whole  outward  appearance  changes ;  for 
it  is  a  fact  that  the  degree  of  the  civilization  and  cul- 
ture of  a  people  is  a  fair  standard  by  which  to  judge 
of  the  physical  character  of  that  people.  A  proper 
education  improves  the  body  as  well  as  the  mind. 
Who  will  undertake  to  say  that  the  featui'es  of  the 
Britons,  in  the  days  of  Julius  Caesar,  were  as  regrdar  as 
those  of  the  present  inhabitants  of  England?  Give 
Africans  the  same  amount  of  culture,  from  generation 
to  generation,  which  Eui'opeans  have  enjoyed,  and  their 
featui'es  will  assume  the  same  proportion  and  symme- 

In  visiting  the  native  to"v\Tis  interior  to  Liberia,  we 
have  seen,  though  on  a  small  scale,  striking  illustrations 
of  this  fact.  Among  the  inhabitants  of  those  towns, 
we  could  invariably  distinguish  the  free  man  fr'om  the 
slave.  There  was  about  the  former  a  dignity  of  ap- 
pearance, an  openness  of  countenance,  an  indej)endence 
of  air,  a  firmness  of  step,  which  indicated  the  absence 
of  oppression ;  while  in  the  latter  there  was  a  dej^res- 
sion  of  countenance,  a  general  deformity  of  apj)earance, 
and  an  awkwardness  of  gait  which  seemed  to  say : 
"  That  man  is  a  slave."  And  it  is,  for  the  most 
part,  among  the  latter  class  of  persons  that  the  slave- 
trade  has  found  its  victims,  it  being  rarely  the  case  that 
free  persons  are  sold  to  slave-traders.  This  will  partly 
account  for  the  general  deformity  of  appearance  of  the 

we  deem  ourselves  such  fair  specimens,  the  decision  reflects  but  too  injuriously  upon 
the  magnanimity  of  earth  and  the  justice  of  heaven !" — Posthumoics  Works  of  Rev. 
Henry  B.Bmcotn,  B.J).,  LL.D.,  one  of  the  Bishops  of  the  M.  K  Church,  South. 


58  Liberia's  offering. 

Africans  in  the  Western  hemispliere ;  going  from  one 
form  of  slaveiy  into  anotlier  immeasurably  more  severe, 
it  was  impossible  that  either  themselves  or  their  de- 
scendants should  improve  physically.  Dr.  Prichard,  in 
his  researches  into  the  Physical  History  of  Man,  relates 
on  the  authority  of  Dr.  S.  S.  Smith,  of  the  negroes  set- 
tled in  the  Southern  districts  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  that  the  field-slaves,  who  live  on  the  planta- 
tions, and  retain  pretty  nearly  the  rude  manners  of 
their  Afi^ican  progenitors,  preserve,  in  the  third  genera- 
tion, much  of  their  original  structure,  though  their  fea- 
tm^es  are  not  so  strongly  marked  as  those  of  imported 
slaves.  But  the  domestic  servants  of  the  same  race, 
who  are  treated  with  lenity,  and  whose  condition  is 
little  different  from  that  of  the  lower  class  of  white 
people,  in  the  third  generation  have  the  nose  raised, 
the  mouth  and  lips  of  moderate  size,  the  eyes  lively 
and  sparkling,  and  often  the  Avhole  composition  of  the 
features  extremely  agreeable.* 

AFRICAN   INHERENT    LOVE    OP   SLAVERY. 

Another  ground  of  argument  with  some  in  favor  of 
the  application  of  Noah's  malediction  to  Africans,  and 
their  consequent  inferiority  to  the  other  races,  is  the 
preference  for  slavery  which  some  emancipated  slaves 
have  shown,  either  refusing  to  be  set  at  liberty  or 
returning  into  bondage  after  having  been  liberated. 
But  they  forget  that  this  is  by  no  means  unusual,  nor 
peculiar  to  the  African  race.  The  effect  of  slavery  is 
to  render  the  mind  congenial  to  itself  Slavery  begets 
in  the  slave  adaptation  and  attachment  to  slavery.  It 
is  a  princij)le  of  the  human  mind  to  love  that  to  which 

*  Watson's  Theological  Dictionary, 


libeeia's  offering.  59 

long  familiarity  lias  accustomed  it,  particularly  if  it  Las 
been  led  by  any  means  to  believe  that  tlie  object  to 
wliicli  it  is  accustomed  is  productive  of  benefit.     How 
many  of  the  emancipated  Israelites  would  not  have 
retm^ned  into  Egyptian  bondage  had  they  possessed 
the  power  and  opportunity  of  so  doing?     Notwith- 
standing the  manifold   and  wonderful  exhibitions  of 
divine  power  which  attended  theii'  exodus  from  that 
house  of  bondage,  they  were,  on  the  least  apj)earance 
of  trouble,   anxious   to   retmii.     When   they  wanted 
bread,  listen  to  their  language :  "  And  the  childi^en  of 
Israel  said,  '  Would  to  God  we  had  died  by  the  hand 
of  the  Lord  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  when  we  sat  by 
the  flesh-pots,  and  when  we  did  eat  bread  to  the  full.' " 
(Exodus  16  :  3.)     When  they  wanted  water,  they  mur- 
mm'ed  against  Moses  their  leader,  saying :  "  Wherefore 
is  this  that  thou  hast  brought  us  up  out  of  Egypt  to 
kill  us  and  om*  chikben  and  oui'  cattle  with  thirst  ?" 
(Exodus  17  :  3.)     And,  as  has  been  already  intimated, 
even  after  they  had  settled  in  Canaan,  and  the  Lord 
had  extirj)ated  some,  and  subdued  the  rest  of  theii' 
enemies,  yet  they  looked  to  Egypt  as  their  home  ;  and 
they  regarded  the  Egy[)tians  as  superior  to  themselves 
even  down  to  the  time  of  Jeremiah.     Solomon  in  all 
his  glory,  could  not  content  himself  without  the  daugh- 
ter of  the  king  of  Egypt,  for  whom  he  built  a  sj)lendid 
palace.     (1  Kings  3:1;  7:8.)     When,  in  the  days  of 
the  prophet  Jeremiah,  the  king  of  Babylon  invaded  the 
land  of  Judah,  a  great  many  of  the  Jews,  contrary  to 
the  remonstrances  of  the  prophet,  retii'ed  into  'Egypt, 
as  if  to  their  common  Tiofne,  saying  in  answer  to  the 
advice  of  the  prophet :  "  No ;  but  we  ^'^oll  go  into  the 
land  of  Egypt,  where  we  shall  see  no  war,  nor  hear  the 


60  Liberia's  offering. 

sound  of  tlie  trumpet,  nor  have  hunger  of  bread,  and 
there  T\dll  we  d^vell." 

Again,  when  pennission  was  given  to  the  Jews  in 
Babylon  to  return  to  Judea  from  their  captivity,  and 
rebuild  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  did  they  all  return  ? 
By  no  means.  They  had  become  so  wedded  to  Baby- 
lonish habits  and  modes  of  life  that,  though  thei'e  was 
so  great  an  inducement  to  their  retui^ning  home  as  the 
rebuilding  of  the  temple — the  "glory  of  Israel" — yet 
they  would  not  return.  They  prefen'ed  remaining  in 
the  land  of  theii'  captivity  to  building  up  a  home  for 
themselves  and  reestablishing  theii'  nationality. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  then,  in  the  case  of  a  people 
chosen  of  God,  and  blessed  above  all  other  peoj)les  in 
point  of  religious  j)ri\dleges,  shall  it  be  thought  won- 
derful if  the  same  things  occur  in  the  case  of  Africans, 
a  people  scattered  and  peeled,  meted  out  and  trodden 
do^vn?  The  words  of  CoT^'per  are  universally  and 
incontrovertibly  true : 

"All  constraint, 


Except  what  wisdom  lays  on  evil  men, 

Is  evil ;  hurts  the  faculties  ;  impedes 

Their  progress  in  the  road  of  science  ;  blinds 

The  eyesight  of  discovery  ;  and  begets 

In  those  who  suffer  it,  a  sordid  mind. 

Bestial,  a  meager  intellect,  unfit 

To  be  the  tenant  of  man's  noble  form." 

Cases  are  not  wanting  of  colored  persons  fleeing  from 
American  bondage  to  Liberia,  who,  meeting  a  few 
difficulties,  and  unused  to  the  task  of  self  reliance,  wish 
to  return  and  live  theii'  former  life  of  ease  and  freedom 
from  care.  Some  do  return,  and  bear  back  e^dl  reports 
of  this  good  land.  These  cases  are  painful,  but  they 
are  not  sur2:)rising ;  they  are  illustrations  of  the  invari- 
able effects  of  slavery.     Nor  is  it  to  be  wondered  at 


Liberia's  offeeing.  61 

tliat  even  in  Liberia,  an  African  government,  fi'ee,  sove- 
reign, and  independent,  there  should  be,  as  Bisliop 
Scott  alleges,  "a  degree  of  deference  shown  to  white 
men  that  is  not  shown  to  colored."  This  "will  be  the 
case  in  every  African  community  for  a  long  time,  even 
after  the  entire  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  Western 
world.  This  reverence  of  the  oppressed  for  the  op- 
pressor, as  we  have  just  seen  in  the  case  of  the  Israel- 
ites, is  not  easily  shaken  off.  Such  is  the  influence  of 
the  latter  upon  the  fonner,  that  their  voice  on  any 
question  has  the  effect  to  hush  into  the  profoundest 
silence  the  least  muimur  of  dissent  on  the  part  of  the 
fonner. 

It  is,  however,  incumbent  upon  the  intelligent  among 
the  African  race,  to  discountenance  as  much  as  j)ossible 
this  servile  feeling,  and  to  use  every  means  to  crush  it 
wherever  it  appears,  for  its  influence  on  the  mind  and 
morals  and  general  progress  of  the  race  is  fearfully 
injurious. 

INFLUENCE     OF     THE     CUEEENT     ASPEESIONS     UPON     OUE- 
SELVES,  AND    OUE   DUTY. 

If  an  ignorant  man  be  calumniated,  and  that  calum- 
ny be  founded  upon  facts  of  Theology,  Science,  or  Phi- 
losophy, branches  of  learning  with  which  he  is,  of 
com*se,  utterly  unacquainted,  it  will  not  be  surprising 
if  that  man,  even  with  the  facts  of  his  own  conscious- 
ness before  him,  contradictory  of  such  calumny,  should 
believe  it,  and  shape  his  coiu'se  of  conduct  in  accord- 
ance with  its  dicta.  So  has  it  been,  generally  sj^eaking, 
with  the  African  race.  We  have  been  under  those 
whose  interest  it  was  to  give  credit,  importance,  and 
circulation  to  the  cmTent  aspersions  against  our  race : 
and  who,  having  all  the  influence  over  us  which  educa- 


62  libeeia's  offering. 

tion,  wealth,  and  power  can  confer,  have  succeeded  too 
well  in  Avorking  in  the  minds  of  many  the  belief  that 
we  are  a  people  accursed,  and  that,  in  consequence,  we 
are  in  every  respect  inferior  to  them,  and  never  can,  by 
any  combination  of  foi-tuitous  circumstances,  lise  to 
i:)ei'fect  equality  with  them.  Hence  we  see  many  ignor- 
ant and  unfortunate  persons  of  color  under  the  poison- 
ing influence  of  this  inculcated  belief,  who  make  no 
effort  •  towards  improvement,  believing  that  theii'  state 
has  been  fixed  by  an  iiTeversible  decree  —  a  state  of 
unconditional  inferiority  to  the  Caucasian.  There  is 
among  such  persons  a  constant  distrust  of  each  other ; 
a  disposition  to  repose  mth  greater  confidence  in  per- 
sons of  another  race ;  a  want  of  faith  in  any  thing 
remarkable  done  or  projected  by  their  own  people. 
Galileans  themselves,  they  doubt  their  own  capacity 
for  the  production  of  "  any  good  thing,"  and  for  no 
other  reason  than  that  it  is  eminently  reported  that 
"  no  good  thing  can  come  out  of  Galilee." 

It  is  earnestly  to  be  hoped  that  in  the  republic  of 
Liberia  no  such  feeling  will  exist.  Nothing  can  be 
more  detiimental  to  our  progress.  It  will  act  like  an 
incubus  upon  our  energies.  Let  us,  when  our  brethren 
come  among  us  from  the  land  of  bondage,  poisoned 
with  the  023inion  of  the  inferiority  of  the  African  race, 
endeavor  as  soon  as  possible  to  eradicate  the  notion. 
And  let  us  teach  our  chikfren  from  their  infancy  — 
for  they  need  to  be  taught  —  that  no  curse  except  that 
which  every  day  follows  the  impenitent,  hangs  upon 
us ;  that  it  is  the  force  of  circmnstances,  induced,  as  we 
have  endeavored  to  show,  by  our  iniquities,  that  keeps 
us  down ;  and  that  we  have  as  much  right  as  any  other 
people  to  strive  to  rise  to  the  very  zenith  of  national 
glory.     "  Already  has  the  ausj^icious  day  of  the  national 


libeeia's  offeeing.  63 

glory  of  our  race  begun  to  dawn ;  it  lias  been  divinely 
and  mysteriously  brought  about ;  it  is  the  work  of 
Almighty  God,  and  marvelous  in  our  eyes ;  and  this 
has  emboldened  me  to  say  that  if  this  government 
unswervijigly  pursue  a  course  of  sound  policy  founded 
on  religion  and  virtue,  we  shall  not,  we  can  not,  we 
mil  not  fail  of  success ;  for  we  shall  then  clearly  com- 
prehend the  force  of  the  expression,  '  How  shall  those 
be  cursed  whom  God  hath  not  cursed?'  or,  in  other 
words,  the  impossibility  will  appear  of  keeping  any 
nation  or  people  buried  in  everlasting  degradation  and 
contemj)t  for  whose  exaltation  the  arm  of  Omnipotence 
is  manifestly  stretched  forth."* 

The  position  of  the  peoj^le  of  Liberia  invests  them 
with  j)eculiar  ability  for  doing  good  in  behalf  of  the 
down-trodden  race  to  which  they  belong,  tlf  they 
properly  use  that  ability,  they  may  exert  no  inconsider- 
able influence  in  bringing  about  the  universal  disen- 
thrallment  and  elevation  of  Afi'icans.  They  should 
not,  in  order  to  benefit  theii*  enslaved  brethren,  "  render 
evil  for  evil"  to  their  oppressors.  Such  a  com'se  is 
l^roductive  of  no  good ;  it  is  a  plan  of  procedm'e  that 
finds  no  sympathy  in  these  enlightened  days ;  it  is  a 
progeny  of  the  dark  ages.  These  are  times  when,  by 
argumentation  and  demonstration,  the  moral  sensibilities 
of  men  must  be  appealed  to.  Physical  inconveniences, 
employed  for  the  purpose  of  correcting  moral  evils, 
have  no  tnie  reformatory  effect.  Men  must  be  led^  not 
d/i'iven.  No  desii'able  effect  can  be  produced  by  reiter- 
ating doleful  complaints  and  harsh  vituperations  against 
men  on  account  of  their  ^^rejudices.  But  a  great  deal 
is  accomplished  by  foi-nishing  j^ractical  demonstrations 
that  such  prejudices  are  destitute  of  foundation.     And 

*  Message  of  President  Benson,  December  4th,  1854. 


64  Liberia's  offering. 

this  is  tlie  work  of  tlie  people  of  Liberia  in  particular, 
and  of  colored  men  in  general.  We  must  prove  to  our 
oppressors  that  we  are  men,  possessed  of  like  suscepti- 
bilities with  themselves ;  by  seeking  after  those  attri- 
butes which  give  dignity  to  a  state ;  by  cultivating 
those  virtues  which  shed  lustre  upon  indi\dduals  and 
communities ;  by  pui'suing  whatever  is  magnificent  in 
enterprise,  whatever  is  lovely  and  of  good  report  in 
civilization,  whatever  is  exalted  in  morals,  and  what- 
ever is  exemplary  in  piety.  Then  shall  we  prove  that 
we  do  possess  "  rights  which  white  people  are  bound  to 
respect,"  the  decision  of  an  enlightened  Chief-Justice 
to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  But  so  long  as  we 
contentedly  remain  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder  at  whose 
top  om'  oppressors  stand,  it  is  unreasonal)le,  it  is  absm'd 
to  call  «ipon  them  to  recognize  us  as  equals  in  every 
respect ;  and  it  is  worse  than  absui'dity  to  abuse  and 
vilify  them  for  their  opinions  and  prejudices  with 
respect  to  us.  We  must  make  oui'  way  to  the  position 
which  they  occu2:)y.  And  having  overste^^ped  the  in- 
terval which  has  so  long  separated  us  from  them,  and 
standing  vdth  them  on  the  same  summit,  we  shall  be 
welcomed  as  equals.  Then  will  Shem,  Ham,  and  Ja- 
pheth  dwell  together  as  brethren,  in  "  liberty,  equality, 
and  fi'aternity."  There  will  be  no  more  slavery,  for 
Canaan,  the  "  servant  of  servants,"  has  been  extermi- 
nated. 


THE  CALL  OF  PROVIDENCE 


TO    THK 


A    DISCOURSE 

DELTVEEED   TO   COLORED    CONGREGATIONS   IK   THE    CITIES    OF   NEW- 

TORK,   PHILADELPHIA,  BALTIMORE,    HARRISBURGH,   ETC., 

DURING  THE  SUMMER   OP    1862. 


THE  CALL  OF  PROVIDENCE 


TO    THE 


§tutm\mt^  0f  §ifoia  iw  g^mnla* 


"  Behold,  the  Lord  thy  God  hath  set  the  land  before  thee :  go  up  and  possess 
it,  as  the  Lord  God  of  thy  fathers  hath  said  unto  thee  ;  fear  not,  neither  be  discour- 
aged."— Deuteronomy  1  :  21. 

Among  tlie  descendants  of  Africa  in  tliis  country  tlie 
persuasion  seems  to  prevail,  tliougli  not  now  to  the 
same  extent  as  formerly,  that  they  owe  no  special  duty 
to  the  land  of  their  forefathers ;  that  their  ancestors 
having  been  brought  to  this  country  against  their  will, 
and  themselves  having  been  born  in  the  land,  they  are 
in  duty  bound  to  remain  here  and  give  their  attention 
exclusively  to  the  acquii'ing  for  themselves,  and  perpet- 
uating to  their  posterity,  social  and  political  rights,  not- 
withstanding the  urgency  of  the  call  which  their  father- 
land, by  its  forlorn  and  degraded  moral  condition, 
makes  uj)on  them  for  their  assistance. 

All  other  people  feel  a  pride  in  their  ancestral  land, 
and  do  every  thing  in  their  power  to  create  for  it,  if  it 
has  not  already,  an  honorable  name.  But  many  of  the 
descendants  of  Africa,  on  the  contrary,  speak  disparag- 
ingly of  their  country ;  are  ashamed  to  acknowledge 
any  connection  with  that  land,  and  would  turn  indig- 
nantly upon  any  who  would  bid  them  go  up  and  take 
possession  of  the  land  of  their  fathers. 


68  Liberia's  offering. 

It  is  a  sad  feature  in  the  residence  of  Africans  in  this 
country,  that  it  has  begotten  in  them  a  forgetfulness  of 
Africa — a  want  of  sympathy  with  her  in  her  moral  and 
intellectual  desolation,  and  a  clinging  to  the  land  which 
for  centuries  has  been  the  scene  of  their  thralldom.  A 
shre^vd  European  observer*  of  American  society,  says 
of  the  negi'o  in  this  country,  that  he  "  makes  a  thou- 
sand fruitless  efforts  to  insinuate  himself  among  men 
who  repulse  him ;  he  conforms  to  the  taste  of  his  op- 
pressors, adoj)ts  theii'  opinions,  and  hopes  by  imitating 
them  to  form  a  part  of  their  community.  Having  been 
told  fi'om  infancy  that  his  race  is  naturally  inferior  to 
that  of  the  whites,  he  assents  to  the  proposition,  and  is 
ashamed  of  his  own  natm'e.  In  each  of  his  features  he 
discovers  a  trace  of  slavery,  and,  if  it  were  in  his  power, 
he  would  'willingly  rid  himself  of  every  thing  that 
makes  him  what  he  is." 

It  can  not  be  denied  that  some  very  important  ad- 
vantao^es  have  accrued  to  the  black  man  from  his  de- 
portation  to  this  land,  but  it  has  been  at  the  expense  of 
his  manhood.  Om*  natm'e  in  this  countiy  is  not  the 
same  as  it  appears  among  the  lordly  natives  of  the  in- 
terior of  Africa,  who  have  never  felt  the  trammels  of  a 
foreign  yoke.  We  have  been  di'agged  into  depths  of 
degi'adation.  We  have  been  taught  a  cringing  servil- 
ity. We  have  been  drilled  into  contentment  mth  the 
most  undiornified  circumstances.  Our  finer  sensibilities 
have  been  blunted.  There  has  been  an  almost  utter 
extinction  of  all  that  delicacy  of  feeling  and  sentiment 
which  adonis  character.  The  temperament  of  om*  souls 
has  become  harder  or  coarser,  so  that  we  can  walk  forth 
here,  in  this  land  of  indignities,  in  ease  and  in  compla- 
cency, while  oui'  complexion  fiu'nishes  groimd  for  eveiy 

*  De  Tocqueville,  Democracy  in  America, 


Liberia's  offering.  69 

species  of  social  insult  wMcli  an  intolerant  prejudice 
may  choose  to  inflict. 

But  a  change  is  coming  over  us.  The  tendency  of 
events  is  directing  the  attention  of  the  colored  people 
to  some  other  scene,  and  Afiica  is  beginning  to  receive 
the  attention,  which  has  so  long  been  tui*ned  away  from 
her ;  and  as  she  throws  open  her  portals  and  shows  the 
inexhaustible  means  of  comfort  and  independence  with- 
in, the  black  man  begins  to  feel  dissatisfied  with  the 
annoyances  by  which  he  is  here  surrounded,  and  looks 
with 'longing  eyes  to  his  fatherland.  I  venture  to  pre- 
dict that,  within  a  very  brief  period,  that  down-trodden 
land  instead  of  being  regarded  with  ]3rejudice  and  dis- 
taste, "svill  largely  attract  the  attention  and  engage  the 
warmest  interest  of  every  man  of  color.  A  few  have 
always  sympathized  with  Africa,  but  it  has  been  an  in- 
dolent and  unmeaning  sympathy — a  sympathy  which 
put  forth  no  effort,  made  no  sacrifices,  endui'ed  no  self- 
denial,  braved  no  obloquy  for  the  sake  of  advancing 
African  interests.  But  the  scale  is  tui'ning,  and  Africa 
is  becoming  the  all-absorbing  topic. 

It  is  my  desire,  on  the  present  occasion,  to  endeavor 
to  set  before  you  the  work  which,  it  is  becoming  more 
and  more  apparent,  devolves  upon  the  black  men  of  the 
United  States;  and  to  guide  my  thoughts,  I  have 
chosen  the  words  of  the  text :  "  Behold,  the  Lord  thy 
God  hath  set  the  land  before  thee :  go  up  and  possess 
it,  as  the  Lord  God  of  thy  fathers  hath  said  unto  thee ; 
fear  not,  neither  be  discouraged." 

You  will  at  once  perceive  that  I  do  not  believe  that 
the  work  to  be  done  by  black  men  is  in  this  country. 
I  believe  that  theii*  field  of  operation  is  in  some  other 
and  distant  scene.  Theii'  work  is  far  nobler  and  loftier 
than  that  which  they  are  now  doing  in  this  country. 


70  Liberia's  offering. 

It  is  theirs  to  betake  themselves  to  injured  Afiica,  and 
bless  those  outraged  shores,  and  quiet  those  distracted 
families  with  the  blessings  of  Christianity  and  civiliza- 
tion. It  is  theii'S  to  bear  with  them  to  that  land  the 
arts  of  industry  and  peace,  and  counteract  the  influence 
of  those  horrid  abominations  which  an  inhuman  avarice 
has  introduced — to  roll  back  the  appalling  cloud  of  ig- 
norance and  superstition  which  overspreads  the  land, 
and  to  rear  on  those  shores  an  asylum  of  liberty  for  the 
down-trodden  sons  of  Afiica  wherever  found.  This  is 
the  work  to  which  Providence  is  obviously  calling  the 
black  men  of  this  country. 

I  am  aware  that  some,  against  all  experience,  are 
hoping  for  the  day  when  they  will  enjoy  equal  social 
and  political  rights  in  this  land.  We  do  not  blame 
them  for  so  believing  and  tinisting.  But  we  would  re- 
mind them  that  there  is  a  faith  against  reason,  against 
experience,  which  consists  in  believing  or  pretending  to 
believe  veiy  important  ^propositions  upon  very  slender 
proofs,  and  in  maintaining  opinions  v^ithout  any  proper 
grounds.  It  ought  to  be  clear  to  eveiy  thinking  and 
imjDartial  mind,  that  there  can  never  occur  in  this  coun- 
tiy  an  equality,  social  or  political,  between  whites  and 
blacks.  The  whites  have  for  a  long  time  had  the  ad- 
vantage. All  the  affairs  of  the  country  are  in  theii' 
hands.  They  make  and  administer  the  laws ;  they 
teach  the  schools ;  here,  in  the  North,  they  ply  all  the 
trades,  they  own  all  the  stores,  they  have  possession  of 
all  the  banks,  they  own  all  the  ships  and  navigate 
them ;  they  are  the  printers,  proprietors,  and  editors  of 
the  leading  newspapers,  and  they  shape  public  opinion. 
Having  always  had  the  lead,  they  have  acquired  an  as- 
cendency they  will  ever  maintain.  The  blacks  have 
very  few  or  no  agencies  in  operation  to  counteract  the 
ascendant  influence  of  the  Eui'opeans.     And  instead  of 


Liberia's  offering.  71 

employing  what  little  they  have  by  a  unity  of  effort  to 
alleviate  theii'  condition,  they  tm-n  all  their  power 
against  themselves  by  theii'  endless  jealousies,  and 
rivalries,  and  competition;  every  one  who  is  able  to 
"  pass  "  being  emulous  of  a  place  among  Euro]3eans  or 
Indians.  This  is  the  effect  of  their  cii'cumstances.  It 
is  the  influence  of  the  dominant  class  upon  them.  It 
ai'gues  no  essential  inferiority  in  them — no  more  than 
the  disadvantages  of  the  Israelites  in  Egypt  argued 
their  essential  inferiority  to  the  Egyptians.  They  are 
the  weaker  class  overshadowed  and  depressed  by  the 
stronger.  They  are  the  feeble  oak  dwarfed  by  the 
overspreadings  of  a  large  tree,  having  not  the  advan- 
tage of  rain,  and  sunshine,  and  fertilizing  dews. 

Before  the  weaker  people  God  has  set  the  land  of 
theii'  forefathers,  and  bids  them  go  up  and  possess  it 
mthout  fear  or  discouragement.  Before  the  tender 
plant  he  sets  an  open  field,  where,  in  the  unobstructed 
air  and  sunshine,  it  may  grow  and  flourish  in  all  its  na- 
tive luxuriance. 

There  are  two  ways  in  which  God  speaks  to  men : 
one  is  by  his  word  and  the  other  by  his  providence. 
He  has  not  sent  any  Moses,  with  signs  and  wonders,  to 
cause  an  exodus  of  the  descendants  of  Africa  to  theii' 
fatherland,  yet  he  has  loudly  spoken  to  them  as  to  their 
duty  in  the  matter.  He  has  spoken  by  his  providence. 
First ;  By  suffering  them  to  be  brought  here  and  placed 
in  circumstances  where  they  could  receive  a  training 
fitting  them  for  the  work  of  civilizing  and  evangelizing 
the  land  whence  they  were  torn,  and  by  preserving 
them  under  the  severest  trials  and  afflictions.  Secondly ; 
By  allowing  them,  notwithstanding  all  the  services  they 
have  rendered  to  this  country,  to  be  treated  as  strangers 
and  aliens,  so  as  to  cause  them  to  have  anguish  of  spir- 
it, as  was  the  case  with  the  Jews  in  Egypt,  and  to 


72  Liberia's  offering. 

make  them  long  for  some  refuge  fi'om  tlieii*  social  and 
civil  deprivations.  Thirdly ;  By  bearing  a  portion  of 
them  across  the  tempestuous  seas  back  to  Afi'ica,  by 
preser^^ng  them  through  tlie  process  of  acclimation,  and 
by  establishing  them  in  the  land,  despite  the  attempts 
of  misguided  men  to  drive  them  away.  Fom-thly ;  By 
keeping  theii'  fatherland  in  reserve  for  them  in  theii- 
absence. 

The  manner  in  which  Africa  has  been  kept  fi*om  in- 
vasion is  tinily  astounding.  Known  for  ages,  it  is  yet 
imknown.  For  centuries  its  inhabitants  have  been  the 
victims  of  the  cupidity  of  foreigners.  The  country  has 
been  rifled  of  its  population.  It  has  been  left  in  some 
portions  almost  wholly  unoccu]3ied,  but  it  has  remained 
unmolested  by  foreigners.  It  has  been  very  near  the 
crowded  countries  of  the  world,  yet  none  has  relieved 
itself  to  any  great  extent  of  its  overflowing  population 
by  seizing  upon  its  domains.  Em-ope,  from  the  North, 
looks  wishfrilly  and  with  longing  eyes  across  the  narrow 
straits  of  Gil^raltar.  Asia,  with  its  teeming  millions,  is 
connected  mth  us  by  an  isthmus  wide  enough  to  admit 
of  her  throwing  thousands  into  that  country.  But, 
notwithstanding*  the  known  wealth  of  the  resom'ces  of 
the  land,  of  which  the  report  has  gone  into  all  the 
earth,  there  is  still  a  tenible  vail  between  us  and  our 
neighbors,  the  all-conquering  Europeans,  which  they  are 
only  now  essaying  to  lift ;  while  the  teeming  millions 
of  Asia  have  not  even  attempted  to  leave  their  boun- 
daries to  penetrate  our  borders.  Neither  alluring  vis- 
ions of  glorious  conquests,  nor  brilliant  hopes  of  rapid 
enrichment,  could  induce  them  to  invade  the  countiy. 
It  has  been  preserved  alike  fi'om  the  boastful  civiliza- 
tion of  Europe,  and  the  eifete  and  barbarous  institutions 
of  Asia.  We  call  it,  then,  a  Providential  interposition, 
that  while  the  owners  of  the  soil  have  been  abroad, 


Liberia's  offering.  73 

j)assing  tlirougli  tlie  fearful  ordeal  of  a  most  grinding 
oppression,  the  land,  thougli  entirely  unprotected,  lias 
lain  uninvaded.  We  regard  it  as  a  providential  call  to 
Africans  every  where,  to  "  go  up  and  possess  the  land ;" 
so  that  in  a  sense  that  is  not  merely  constructive  and 
figurative,  but  truly  literal,  God  says  to  the  black  men 
of  this  country,  "with  reference  to  Afiica :  "  Behold,  I 
set  the  land  before  you,  go  up  and  possess  it." 

Of  course  it  can  not  be  expected  that  this  subject  of 
the  duty  of  colored  men  to  go  up  and  take  possession 
of  their  fatherland,  will  be  at  once  clear  to  every  mind. 
Men  look  at  objects  from  different  points  of  view,  and 
form  theii'  opinions  according  to  the  points  fi^om  which 
they  look,  and  are  guided  in  their  actions  according  to 
the  opinions  they  form.  As  I  have  already  said,  the 
majority  of  exiled  Africans  do  not  seem  to  appreciate 
the  great  privilege  of  going  and  taking  possession  of 
the  land.  They  seem  to  have  lost  all  interest  in  that 
land,  and  to  prefer  living  in  subordinate  and  inferior 
positions  in  a  strange  land  among  oppressors,  to  encoun- 
tering the  risks  involved  in  emigrating  to  a  distant  coun- 
try. As  I  walk  the  streets  of  these  cities,  visit  the  hotels 
go  on  board  the  steamboats,  I  am  grieved  to  notice  how 
much  intelligence,  how  much  strength  and  energy  is 
frittered  away  in  those  trifling  employments,  which,  if 
thrown  into  Africa,  might  elevate  the  millions  of  that 
land  fi'om  their  degradation,  tribes  at  a  time,  and  create 
an  African  power  which  would  command  the  respect  of 
the  world,  and  place  in  the  possession  of  Africans,  its 
rightful  owners,  the  wealth  which  is  now  diverted  to 
other  quarters.  Most  of  the  wealth  that  could  be 
di'awn  from  that  land,  during  the  last  six  centmies,  has 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Europeans,  Avhile  many  of 
Africa's  own  sons,  sufficiently  intelligent  to  control  those 


74  Liberia's  offeeing. 

iininense  resources,  are  sitting  doTvn  in  poverty  and  de- 
pendence in  the  land  of  strangers  —  exiles  when  they 
have  so  rich  a  domain  from  which  they  have  never  been 
expatriated,  but  which  is  willing,  nay,  anxious  to  wel- 
come them  home  again. 

We  need  some  African  power,  some  great  center  of 
the  race  where  our  physical,  pecuniary,  and  intellectual 
strength  may  be  collected.  We  need  some  spot  whence 
such  an  influence  may  go  forth  in  behalf  of  the  race  as 
shall  be  felt  by  the  nations.  We  are  now  so  scattered 
and  divided  that  we  can  do  nothing.  The  imposition 
begun  last  year  by  a  foreign  power  upon  Hajiii,  and 
which  is  still  persisted  in,  fills  every  black  man  who 
has  heard  of  it  with  indignation,  but  we  are  not  strong 
enough  to  sj^eak  out  effectually  for  that  land.  When 
the  same  power  attempted  an  outrage  upon  the  Libe. 
rians,  there  was  no  Aiiican  power  strong  enough  to 
intei'pose.  So  long  as  we  remain  thus  divided,  we  may 
expect  impositions.  So  long  as  we  live  simj^ly  by  the 
sufferance  of  the  nations,  we  must  expect  to  be  subject 
to  theii*  caprices. 

Among  the  free  portion  of  the  descendants  of  Africa, 
nmnbering  about  foui'  or  five  millions,  there  is  enough 
talent,  wealth,  and  enterprise,  to  form  a  respectable 
nationality  on  the  continent  of  Africa.  For  nigh  three 
hundi'ed  years  theii*  skill  and  industry  have  been  ex- 
pended in  building  up  the  southern  countries  of  the 
New  World,  the  poor,  frail  constitution  of  the  Cau- 
casian not  allowing  him  to  endui'e  the  fatigue  and  toil 
involved  in  such  labors.  Africans  and  their  descend- 
ants have  been  the  laborers,  and  the  mechanics,  and  the 
artisans  in  the  greater  portion  of  this  hemisphere.  By 
the  results  of  theii'  labor  the  European  countries  have 
been  sustained  and  emiched.  All  the  cotton,  coffee, 
indigo,  sugar,  tobacco,  etc.,  which  have  foimed  the  most 


Liberia's  offering.  75 

important  articles  of  European  commerce,  liave  been 
raised  and  prepared  for  market  by  tlie  labor  of  the 
black  man.  Dr.  Palmer  of  New-Orleans,  bears  tke 
same  testimony.*  And  all  tMs  labor  tkey  have  done, 
for  the  most  part  not  only  without  compensation,  but 
■\vith  abuse,  and  contempt,  and  insult,  as  their  reward. 

Now,  while  Europeans  are  looking  to  our  father- 
land with  such  eagerness  of  desire,  and  are  hastening 
to  explore  and  take  away  its  riches,  ought  not  Africans 
in  the  Western  hemisj)here  to  turn  their  regards  thither 
also  ?  We  need  to  collect  the  scattered  forces  of  the 
race,  and  there  is  no  rallying-ground  more  favorable 
than  Aftica.     There 

"  No  pent-up  Utica  contracts  our  powers, 
The  whole  boundless  continent  is  ours." 

Outs  as  a  gift  from  the  Almighty  when  he  drove  asun- 
der the  nations  and  assigned  them  theii'  boundaries ; 
and  ours  by  peculiar  physical  adaptation. 

An  African  nationality  is  our  great  need,  and  God 
tells  us  by  his  providence  that  he  has  set  the  land 
before  us,  and  bids  us  go  up  and  possess  it.  We  shall 
never  receive  the  respect  of  other  races  until  we  estab- 
lish a  powerful  •  nationality.  We  should  not  content 
om'selves  with  living  among  other  races,  simply  by  their 
permission  or  their  endm-ance,  as  Africans  live  in  this 
country.  We  must  build  up  negro  states ;  we  must 
establish  and  maintain  the  various  institutions;  we 
must  make  and  administer  laws,  erect  and  preserve 
churches,  and  support  the  worship  of  God ;  we  must 

*  Iq  the  famous  eermon  of  this  distinguished  divine  on  Slavery  a  Divine 
Trust,  he  says :  "  The  enriching  commerce  which  has  built  the  splendid  cities  and 
marble  palaces  of  England  as  well  as  of  America,  has  been  largely  established  upon 
the  products  of  Southern  soil ;  and  the  blooms  upon  Southern  fields,  gathered  by 
black  hands,  have  fed  the  spindles  and  looms  of  Manchester  and  Birmingham  not 
less  than  of  Lawrence  and  Lowell." 


76  Liberia's  offering. 

have  goveraments ;  we  must  have  legislation  of  our 
own ;  we  must  build  ships  and  navigate  them ;  we 
must  ply  the  trades,  instinct  the  schools,  control  the 
press,  and  thus  aid  in  shaping  the  opinions  and  guiding 
the  destinies  of  mankind.  Nationality  is  an  ordinance 
of  Nature.  The  heaii:  of  eveiy  tiTie  negro  yearns  after 
a  distinct  and  separate  nationality. 

Impoverished,  feeble,  and  alone,  Liberia  is  striving  to 
establish  and  build  up  such  a  nationality  in  the  home 
of  the  race.  Can  any  descendant  of  Afiica  tm*n  con- 
temptuously upon  a  scene  where  such  effoi*ts  are  making  ? 
Would  not  every  right-thinking  negro  rather  lift  up 
his  voice  and  direct  the  attention  of  his  brethren  to  that 
land  ?  Liberia,  mth  outstretched  arms,  earnestly  invites 
all  to  come.  We  call  them  forth  out  of  all  nations ; 
we  bid  them  take  up  their  all  and  leave  the  countries 
of  theii'  exile,  as  of  old  the  Israelites  went  forth  from 
Egypt,  taking  ^vith  them  their  trades  and  their  treas- 
ui'es,  their  intelligence,  their  mastery  of  arts,  theii' 
knowledge  of  the  sciences,  theii*  ^^ractical  msdom,  and 
every  thing  that  will  render  them  useful  in  building  up 
a  nationality.  We  summon  them  from  these  States, 
from  the  Canadas,  from  the  East  and  West-Indies,  from 
South-America,  from  eveiy  where,  to  come  and  take 
part  with  us  in  our  great  work. 

But  those  whom  we  call  are  under  the  influence  of 
various  opinions,  having  different  and  conflicting  ^dews 
of  theii*  relations  and  duty  to  Africa,  according  to  the 
different  stand-points  they  occupy.  So  it  was  with 
another  people  who,  like  ourselves,  were  suffering  from 
the  effects  of  protracted  thralldom,  when  on  the  bor- 
ders of  the  land  to  which  God  was  leading  them. 
When  Moses  sent  out  sj^ies  to  search  the  land  of  Ca- 
naan, every  man,  on  his  return,  seemed  to  be  influenced 
in  his  report  by  his  peculiar  temperament,  previous 


Liberia's  offering.  77 

habits  of  tliouglit,  "by  tlie  degree  of  liis  physical  cour- 
age, or  by  sometliing  peculiar  in  his  point  of  observa- 
tion. All  agreed,  indeed,  that  it  was  an  exceedingly 
rich  land,  "  flowing  mth  milk  and  honey,"  for  they  car- 
ried with  them  on  their  retui'n,  a  proof  of  its  amazing 
fertility.  But  a  pai-t,  and  a  larger  part,  too,  saw  only 
giants  and  walled  towns,  and  barbarians  and  cannibals. 
"  Surely,"  said  they,  "  it  floweth  with  milk  and  honey. 
Nevertheless  the  people  be  strong  that  dwell  in  the 
land,  and  the  cities  are  walled,  and  very  great ;  and 
moreover  we  saw  the  childi^en  of  Anak  there.  The 
land  through  which  we  have  gone  to  search  it,  is  a  land 
that  eateth  up  the  inhabitants  thereof;  and  all  the  j)eo- 
ple  that  we  saw  in  it  are  men  of  a  great  stature.  And 
there  we  saw  the  giants,  the  sons  of  Anak,  which  come 
of  the  giants  :  and  we  were  in  our  own  sight  as  grass- 
hoppers, and  so  we  were  in  their  sight."  It  was  only  a 
small  minority  of  that  company  that  saw  things  in  a 
more  favorable  light.  "  Caleb  stilled  the  people  before 
Moses,  and  said.  Let  us  go  up  at  once  and  possess  it  • 
for  we  be  well  able  to  overcome  it."     (Numbers  13.) 

In  like  manner  there  is  division  among  the  colored 
people  of  this  country  mth  regard  to  Africa,  that  land 
which  the  providence  of  God  is  bidding  them  go  up 
and  possess.  Spies  sent  from  different  sections  of  this 
country  by  the  colored  people  —  and  many  a  spy  not 
commissioned  —  have  gone  to  that  land,  and  have  re- 
turned and  reported.  Like  the  Hebrew  spies,  they 
have  put  forth  diverse  views.  Most  believe  Africa  to 
be  a  fertile  and  rich  country,  and  an  African  nationality 
a  desirable  thing.  But  some  affirm  that  the  land  is  not 
fit  to  dwell  in,  for  "it  is  a  land  that  eateth  up  the 
inhabitants  thereof,"  notwithstanding  the  millions  of 
strong  and  vigorous  aborigines  who  throng  all  parts 


78  Liberia's  offeeing. 

of  the  country,  and  tlie  thousands  of  colonists  Tvho  are 
settled  along  the  coast;  some  see  in  the  inhabitants 
incorrigible  barbarism,  degradation,  and  superstition, 
and  insuperable  hostility  to  civilization  ;  others  suggest ' 
that  the  dangers  and  risks  to  be  encountered,  and  the 
self-denial  to  be  endui'ed,  are  too  great  for  the  slender 
advantages  which,  as  it  appears  to  them,  vnR  accrae 
fi'om  immigration.  A  few  only  report  that  the  land  is 
open  to  us  on  every  hand — that  "every  prospect 
pleases,"  and  that  the  natives  are  so  tractable  that  it 
would  be  a  comparatively  easy  matter  for  civilized  and 
Christianized  black  men  to  secure  all  the  land  to 
Chiistian  law,  liberty,  and  civilization. 

I  come  to-day  to  defend  the  report  of  the  minority. 
The  thousands  of  our  own  race,  emigrants  from  this 
country,  settled  for  more  than  forty  years  in  that  land, 
agree  with  the  minority  report.  Dr.  Barth,  and  other 
travelers  to  the  east  and  south-east  of  Liberia,  indorse 
the  sentiment  of  the  minority,  and  testify  to  the  beau- 
ty, and  healthftdness,  and  productiveness  of  the  country, 
and  to  the  mildness  and  hospitality  of  its  inhabitants. 
In  Liberia  we  hear  fi'om  natives,  who  are  constantly 
coming  to  our  settlements  from  the  far  interior,  of  land 
exuberantly  fertile,  of  large,  numerous,  and  wealthy 
tribes,  athletic  and  industrious ;  not  the  descendants  of 
Europeans — according  to  Bowen's  insane  theory — ^but 
hlacJc  men,  pure  negroes,  who  live  in  large  towns,  culti- 
vate the  soil,  and  cany  on  extensive  traffic,  maintaining 
amicable  relations  with  each  other  and  mth  men  fr'om 
a  distance. 

The  ideas  that  formerly  prevailed  of  the  intenor  of 
Africa,  which  suited  the  puii30ses  of  poetry  and  sensa- 
tion "wi'iting,  have  been  proved  entirely  erroneous. 
Poets  may  no  longer  sing  mth  impunity  of  Afiica : 


libeeia's  offering.  79 

"A  region  of  drought,  where  no  river  glides, 
Nor  rippling  brook  with  osiered  sides  ; 
Where  sedgy  pool,  nor  bubbling  fount, 
Nor  tree,  nor  cloud,  nor  misty  mount. 
Appears  to  refresh  the  aching  eye. 
But  barren  earth  and  the  burning  sky. 
And  the  blank  horizon  round  and  round." 

No ;  missionary  and  scientific  enter]3rises  liave  disproved 
sucli  fallacies.  The  land  possesses  every  possible  in- 
^cement.  That  extensive  and  beauteous  domain 
which  God  has  given  us  appeals  to  us  and  to  black 
men  every  where,  by  its  many  blissful  and  benignant 
aspects ;  by  its  flowery  landscapes,  its  beautiful  rivers, 
its  serene  and  peaceful  skies ;  by  all  that  attractive  and 
perennial  verdure  which  overspreads  the  hills  and  val- 
leys ;  by  its  every  prospect  lighted  up  by  delightful 
sunshine ;  by  all  its  natural  charms,  it  calls  upon  us  to 
rescue  it  from  the  grasp  of  remorseless  superstition, 
and  introduce  the  blessings  of  the  Gospel. 

But  there  are  som,e  among  the  intelligent  colored 
people  of  this  country  who,  while  they  profess  to  have 
great  love  for  Africa,  and  tell  us  that  theii'  souls  are 
kindled  when  they  hear  of  their  fatherland,  yet  object 
to  going  themselves,  because,  as  they  affirm,  the  black 
man  has  a  work  to  accomplish  in  this  land  —  he  has  a 
destiny  to  fulfill.  He,  the  representative  of  Africa,  like 
the  representatives  from  various  parts  of  Europe,  must 
act  his  part  in  building  up  this  great  composite  nation. 
It  is  not  difficult  to  see  what  the  work  of  the  black 
man  is  in  this  land.  The  most  inexperienced  observer 
may  at  once  read  his  destiny.  Look  at  the  various 
departments  of  society  here  in  the  free  North ;  look  at 
the  different  branches  of  industiy,  and  see  how  the 
black  man  is  aiding  to  build  up  this  nation.  Look 
at  the  hotels,  the  saloons,  the  steamboats,  the  barber- 


^#^ 


80  Liberia's  offering. 

shops,  and  see  liow  successfully  he  is  canying  out  his 
destiny !  And  there  is  an  extreme  likelihood  that  such 
are  forever  to  be  the  exploits  which  he  is  destined  to 
achieve  in  this  countr}^  until  he  merges  his  Afiican 
peculiarities  in  the  Caucasian. 

Others  object  to  the  climate  of  Africa,  first,  that  it  is 
unhealthy,  and  secondly,  that  it  is  not  favorable  to  in- 
tellectual progress.  'To  the  first,  vre  reply  that  it  is 
not  more  insalubrious  than  other  new  countries.  Pel^- 
sons  going  to  Afi'ica,  who  have  not  been  broken  down 
as  to  their  constitutions  in  this  country,  stand  as  fair  a 
chance  of  successful  acclimation  as  in  any  other  countiy 
of  large,  unbroken  forests  and  extensively  uncleared 
lands.  In  all  new  countries  there  are  sufferings  and 
privations.  All  those  countries  which  have  grown  up 
during  the  last  two  centuiies,  in  this  hemisphere,  have 
had  as  a  foundation  the  groans,  and  tears,  and  blood  of 
the  pioneers.  But  what  are  the  sufferings  of  pioneers, 
compared  with  the  greatness  of  the  results  they  accom- 
plish for  succeeding  generations?  Scarcely  any  great 
step  in  human  progress  is  made  without  multitudes  of 
victims.  Eveiy  revolution  that  has  been  effected,  every 
nationality  that  has  been  established,  every  countiy  that 
has  been  rescued  fi*om  the  abominations  of  savagism, 
every  colony  that  has  been  planted,  has  involved  per- 
plexities and  sufferings  to  the  generation  who  under- 
took it.  In  the  evangelization  of  Africa,  in  the  erection 
of  Afiican  nationalities,  we  can  expect  no  exceptions. 
The  man,  then,  who  is  not  able  to  suffer  and  to  die  for 
his  fellows  when  necessity  requii'es  it,  is  not  fit  to  be  a 
pioneer  in  this  great  work. 

We  believe,  as  we  have  said,  that  the  establishment 
of  an  African  nationality  in  Africa  is  the  gi'eat  need  of 
the  Afiican  race ;  and  the  men  who  have  gone,  or  may 


Liberia's  offering.  81 

liereafter  go  to  assist  in  laying  tlie  foundations  of  eni- 
pii'e,  so  far  from  being  dupes,  or  cowards,  or  traitors,  as 
some  liave  ignorantly  called  them,  are  tlie  truest  heroes 
of  the  race.  They  are  the  soldiers  rushing  first  into 
the  breach  —  physicians  who  at  the  risk  of  their  own 
lives  are  fii'st  to  explore  an  infectious  disease.  How 
much  more  nobly  do  they  act  than  those  who  have  held 
for  years  that  it  is  nobler  to  sit  here  and  patiently  suf- 
fer with  our  brethren  !  Such  sentimental  inactivity 
finds  no  respect  in  these  days  of  rapid  movement.  The 
world  sees  no  merit  in  mere  innocence.  The  man  who 
contents  himself  to  sit  down  and  exemplify  the  virtue 
of  jDatience  and  endurance  will  find  no  sympathy  from 
the  busy,  restless  crowd  that  rush  by  him.  Even  the 
"  sick  man "  must  get  out  of  the  way  when  he  hears 
the  tramp  of  the  approaching  host,  or  be  crushed  by 
the  heedless  and  massive  car  of  progress.  Blind  Bar- 
timeuses  are  silenced  by  the  crowd.  The  world  requires 
active  service;  it  respects  only  productive  workers. 
The  days  of  hermits  and  monks  have  passed  aw^ay. 
Action — work,  work — is  the  order  of  the  day.  Heroes 
in  the  strife  and  struggle  of  humanity  are  the  demand 
of  the  age. 

"  They  who  would  be  free,  themselves  must  strike  the  blow." 

"With  regard  to  the  objection  founded  upon  the  un- 
favorableness  of  the  climate  to  intellectual  progress,  I 
have  only  to  say,  that  proper  moral  agencies,  when  set 
in  operation,  can  not  be  overborne  by  physical  causes. 
"  We  continually  behold  lower  laws  held  in  restraint 
by  higher ;  mechanic  l)y  dynamic ;  chemical  by  vital ; 
physical  by  moral."*  It  has  not  yet  been  proved  tliat 
w4th  the  proper  influences,  the  tropics  will  not  produce 

*  Dean  Trench,  quoted  by  Baden  Powell  in  Essays  and  Reviews^  1861. 

6 


82  Liberia's  offering. 

men  of  "  cerebral  activity."  Those  races  wliicli  have 
degenerated  by  a  removal  from  the  North  to  the  trop- 
ics did  not  possess  the  proper  moral  power.  They  had 
in  themselves  the  seed  of  degeneracy,  and  would  have 
degenerated  any  where.  It  was  not  Anglo-Saxon  blood, 
nor  a  temperate  climate,  that  kept  the  first  emigrants 
to  this  land  fi'om  falling  into  the  same  indolence  and 
inefficiency  which  have  overtaken  the  European  settlers 
in  South- America,  but  the  Anglo-Saxon  Bible  —  the 
principles  contained  in  that  book,  are  the  gi'eat  conserv- 
ative and  elevating  power.  Man  is  the  same,  and  the 
human  mind  is  the  same,  whether  existing  beneath 
African  suns  or  Arctic  fr-osts.  I  can  conceive  of  no  dif- 
ference. It  is  the  moral  influences  brought  to  bear 
upon  the  man  that  make  the  difference  in  his  progress. 
"  High  degrees  of  moral  sentiment,"  says  a  distin- 
guished American  "wiiter,*  "  control  the  unfavorable 
influences  of  climate  ;  and  some  of  our  grandest  exam- 
ples of  men  and  of  races  come  from  the  equatorial  re- 
gions." Man  is  elevated  by  taking  hold  of  that  which 
is  higher  than  himself  Unless  this  is  done,  climate, 
color,  race,  ^vill  avail  nothing. 

" unless  above  himself  he  can 


Erect  himseli^  how  poor  a  thing  is  man !" 

For  my  own  part,  I  believe  that  the  brilliant  world  of 
the  tropics,  ^\ith  its  marvels  of  natm'e,  must  of  neces- 
sity give  to  mankind  a  new  career  of  letters,  and  new 
fornis  in  the  various  arts,  whenever  the  millions  of  men 
at  present  uncultivated  shall  enjoy  the  advantages  of 
ciAdlization. 

Africa  Avill   furnish   a   development   of  civilization 
which  the  world  has  never  yet  witnessed.     Its  great 

*  R.  W.  Emerson,  in  the  Atlantic  Monthly,  April,  1862. 


Liberia's  offering.  83 

peculiarity  mil  be  its  moral  element.     The  Gospel  is 
to  achieve  some  of  its  most  beautiful  triumphs  in  that 
land.     "  God  shall  enlarge  Japheth,  and  he  shall  dwell 
in  the  tents  of  Shem  "  was  the  blessing  upon  the  Eu- 
ropean  and   Asiatic  races.     Wonderfully   have   these 
predictions  been  fulfilled.     The  all-conquering  descend- 
ants of  Japheth  have  gone  to  every  clime,  and  have 
planted  themselves  on  almost  every  shore.     By  means 
fair   and  unfaii',  they   have   spread   themselves,  have 
grown  wealthy  and  powerful.     They  have  been  truly 
"  enlarged."     God  has  "  dwelt  in  the  tents  of  Shem,'' 
for  so  some  understand  the  passage.     The  Messiah — 
God  manifest  in  the  flesh  —  was  of  the  tribe  of  Judah. 
He  was  born  and  dwelt  in  the  tents  of  Shem.     The 
promise  to  Ethiopia,  or  Ham,  is  like  that  to  Shem,  of  a 
spiiitual  kind.     It  refers  not  to  physical  strength,  not 
to  large  and  extensive  domains,  not  to  foreign  con- 
quests, not  to  wide-spread  domination,  but  to  the  pos- 
session of  sj^iiitual  qualities,  to  the  elevation  of  the  soul 
heavenward,  to  spiiitual   aspirations  and  divine  com- 
munications.    "  Ethiopia  shall  stretch  forth  her  hands 
unto  God."     Blessed,  glorious  promise  !     Oiu"  trust  is 
not  to  be  in  chariots  or  horses,  not  in  our  own  skill  or 
power,  but  oui'  helj)  is  to  be  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.. 
And   sui'ely,   in   reviemng   our   history  as   a  people, 
whether  we  consider  our  preservation  in  the  lands  of 
our  exile,  or  the  preservation  of  our  fatherland  fi^om  in- 
vasion, we  are  compelled  to  exclaim :  "  Hitherto  hath 
the  Lord  helped  us  !"     Let  us,  then,  fear  not  the  influ- 
ences of  climate.     Let  us  go  forth  stretching  out  our 
hands  to  God,  and  if  it  be  as  hot  as  Nebuchadnezzar's 
fiumace,  there  will  be  one  in  the  midst  like  unto  the 
Son  of  God,  counteracting  its  deleterious  influences. 
Behold,  then,  the  Lord  our  God  has  set  the  land  be- 


84  Liberia's  offering. 

fore  us,  witli  its  burning  climate,  -s^dtli  its  privations, 
■«dtli  its  moral,  intellectual,  and  j)olitical  needs,  and  by 
his  providence  lie  bids  us  go  up  and  possess  it  witliout 
fear  or  discouragement.  Sliall  we  go  up  at  liis  bid- 
ding ?  If  tlie  black  men  of  this  country,  tlirougli  un- 
belief or  indolence,  or  for  any  other  cause,  fail  to  lay 
hold  of  the  blessings  which  God  is  proffering  to  them, 
and  neglect  to  accomplish  the  work  which  devolves 
upon  them,  the  work  will  be  done,  but  others  will  be 
brought  in  to  do  it,  and  to  take  possession  of  the 
country. 

For  while  the  colored  people  here  are  tossed  about  by 
various  and  conflicting  opinions  as  to  theii'  duty  to  that 
land,  men  are  going  thither  from  other  quarters  of  the 
globe.  They  are  entering  the  land  fi'om  various  quar- 
ters with  various  motives  and  designs,  and  may  eventu- 
ally so  preoccupy  the  land  as  to  cut  us  off  fi-om  the  fail' 
inheritance  which  lies  before  us,  unless  we  go  forth 
without  farther  delay  and  establish  oui'selves. 

The  enteii^rise  and  energy  manifested  by  white  men 
who,  -with  uncongenial  constitutions,  go  fi'om  a  distance 
to  endeavor  to  open  up  that  land  to  the  world,  are  far 
from  creditable  to  the  civilized  and  enlightened  colored 
men  of  the  United  States,  Avhen  contrasted  mth  theii* 
indifference  in  the  matter.  A  noble  amiy  of  self-expa- 
triated evangelists  have  gone  to  that  land  fi'om  Eiu'oj^e 
and  America ;  and,  while  anxious  to  extend  the  bless- 
ings of  true  religion,  they  have  in  no  slight  degree  pro- 
moted the  cause  of  science  and  commerce.  Many  have 
fallen,  either  from  the  effects  of  the  climate  or  by  the 
hands  of  violence  ;*  still  the  interest  in  the  land  is  by 

*  The  names  of  John  Ledyard,  Frederick  Horneman,  Dr.  Walter  Gudney,  Cap- 
tain Clapperton,  Major  Denman,  John  Richardson,  and  Dr.  Overweg  occur  in  the 
list  of  those  who  have  fallen  victims  either  to  the  climate  or  the  hardships  of  their 
pilgrimage.     But  a  more  melancholy  enumeration  may  be  made.    Major  Houghton 


Liberia's  offering.  85 

no  means  diminislied.  The  enamored  worshiper  of 
science,  and  the  Christian  philanthropist,  are  still  la- 
boring to  solve  the  problem  of  African  geography,  and 
to  elevate  its  benighted  tribes.  They  are  not  only  dis- 
closing to  the  world  the  mysteries  of  regions  hitherto 
"unex2:)lored,  but  tribes  whose  very  existence  had  not 
before  been  known  to  the  civilized  world  have  been 
brought,  through  their  instrumentality,  into  contact 
with  civilization  and  Christianity.  They  have  discov- 
ered in  the  distant  portions  of  that  land  countries  as 
productive  as  any  in  Europe  and  America.  They  have 
informed  the  world  of  bold  and  lofty  mountains,  ex- 
tensive lakes,  noble  rivers,  falls  rivaling  Niagara,  so 
that,  as  a  result  of  their  arduous,  difficult,  and  philan- 
throj)ic  labors  of  exploration,  the  cause  of  Christianity, 
ethnology,  geography,  and  commerce  has  been,  in  a  very 
important  degree,  subserved. 

Dr.  Livingstone,  the  indefatigable  African  explorer, 
who,  it  is  estimated,  has  passed  over  not  less  than  eleven 
thousand  miles  of  African  ground,  speaking  of  the  mo- 
tives which  led  him  to  those  shores,  and  still  keep  him 
there  in  spite  of  privations  and  severe  afflictions,  says  : 

"  I  expect  to  find  for  myself  no  large  fortune  in  that  country ;  nor  do  I 
expect  to  explore  any  large  portions  of  a  new  country ;  but  I  do  hope  to 
find  a  pathway,  by  means  of  the  river  Zambesi,  which  may  lead  to  high- 
lands, where  Europeans  may  form  a  settlement,  and  where,  by  opening  up 
communication  and  establishing  commercial  intercourse  with  the  natives  of 
Afi-ica,  they  may  slowly,  but  not  the  less  surely,  impart  to  the  people  of 
that  country  the  knowledge  and  inestimable  blessings  of  Christianity." 

perished,  or  was  murdered,  in  the  basin  of  the  Gambia.  The  truly  admirable 
Mungo  Park  was  killed  in  an  attack  of  the  natives,  at  a  difficult  passage  of  the 
Niger.  The  same  fate  befell  Richard  Lander  in  the  lower  course  of  the  river. 
Major  Laing  was  foully  slain  in  his  tent  at  a  halting-place  in  the  Sahara.  John 
Davidson  was  assassinated  soon  after  passing  the  fringe  of  the  desert.  Dr.  Cowan 
and  Captain  Donovan  disappeared  in  the  wilds  of  South-Africa.  Dr.  Vogel  was 
assassinated  in  the  country  about  Lake  Chad. — Leisure  Hour. 


86  libeeia's  offering. 

The  recently  formed  Oxford,  Cambridge,  and  Dublin 
Missionary  Society  state  tlieir  ol)ject  to  be  to  spread 
Christianity  among  the  untaught  people  of  Central 
Afiica,  "  so  to  operate  among  them  as  by  mere  teaching 
and  influence  to  help  to  huild  tip  native  Christian  states^ 
The  idea  of  building  up  "  native  Christian  states  "  is  a 
veiy  important  one,  and  is  exactly  such  an  idea  as 
would  be  earned  out  if  there  were  a  large  influx  of 
civilized  blacks  from  abroad. 

I  am  Sony  to  find  that  among  some  in  this  countiy, 
the  opinion  prevails  that  in  Liberia  a  distinction  is 
maintained  between  the  colonists  and  the  aborigines,  so 
that  the  latter  are  shut  out  from  the  social  and  political 
pri\dleges  of  the  fonner.  No  candid  person  who  has 
read  the  laws  of  Liberia,  or  who  has  visited  that  coun- 
tiy, can  afiirm  or  believe  such  a  thing.  The  idea  no 
doubt  arises  from  the  fact  that  the  aborigines  of  a  coun- 
try generally  suffer  ft'om  the  settling  of  colonists  among 
them.  But  the  work  of  Liberia  is  somewhat  different 
from  that  of  other  colonies  which  have  been  planted  on 
foreign  shores.  The  work  achieved  by  other  emigrants 
has  usually  been — the  enhancement  of  theii'  own  imme- 
diate interests ;  the  increase  of  theii*  physical  comforts 
and  conveniences  ;  the  enlargement  of  their  borders  by 
the  most  speedy  and  available  methods,  mthout  regard 
to  the  effect  such  a  course  might  have  upon  the  aborig- 
ines. Theu'  interests  sometimes  comins:  into  du'ect  con- 
tact  with  those  of  the  owners  of  the  soil,  they  have  not 
unfrequently,  by  their  superior  skill  and  power,  reduced 
the  j)Oor  native  to  servitude  or  complete  annihilation. 
The  Israelites  could  live  in  peace  in  the  land  of  Ca- 
naan only  by  exterminating  the  indigenous  inhabitants. 
The  colony  that  went  out  fi'om  Phenicia,  and  that  laid 
the  foundations  of  empire  on  the  northern  shores  of  Af- 


Liberia's  offering.  87 

rica,  at  first  paid  a  yearly  tax  to  tlie  natives  ;  witli  tlie 
increasing  wealth  and  power  of  Cartilage,  however,  the 
respective  conditions  of  the  Carthaginians  and  the  na- 
tives were  changed,  and  the  Phenician  adventurers  as- 
sumed and  maintained  a  dominion  over  the  Libyans. 
The  colonies  fi'om  Em'ope  which  landed  at  Plymouth 
Rock,  at  Boston,  and  at  Jamestown — which  took  posses- 
sion of  the  West-India  islands  and  of  Mexico,  treated 
the  aborigines  in  the  same  manner.  The  natives  of 
India,  Australia,  and  New-Zealand  are  experiencing  a 
similar  treatment  under  the  ovei'poweriug  and  domineer- 
ing rule  of  the  Anglo-Saxons.  Eagerness  for  gain  and 
the  passion  for  territorial  aggrandisement  have  appeared 
to  the  colonists  necessary  to  their  growth  and  progress. 

The  work  of  Liberia,  as  I  have  said,  is  different  and 
far  nobler.  We,  on  the  borders  of  our  fatherland,  can 
not,  as  the  framers  of  our  Constitution  wisely  intimated, 
allow  ourselves  to  be  influenced  by  "  avaricious  specu- 
lations," or  by  desires  for  "  territorial  aggrandisement." 
Our  work  there  is  moral  and  intellectual  as  well  as 
physical.  We  have  to  work  upon  the  people^  as  weU 
as  upon  the  land — upon  onind  as  well  as  upon  matter. 
Our  prosperity  depends  as  much  upon  the  wholesome 
and  elevating  influence  we  exert  upon  the  native  poj)u- 
lation,  as  upon  the  progress  we  make  in  agriculture, 
commerce,  and  manufacture.  Indeed  the  conviction 
prevails  in  Liberia  among  the  thinking  people  that  we 
can  make  no  important  progress  in  these  things  without 
the  cooperation  of  the  aborigines.  We  believe  that  no 
policy  can  be  more  suicidal  in  Liberia  than  that  which 
would  keep  aloof  from  the  natives  around  us.  We 
believe  that  our  life  and  strength  will  be  to  elevate  and 
incorporate  them  among  us  as  speedily  as  possible. 

And,  then,  the  aborigines  are  not  a  race  alien  from 


88  Liberia's  orFERiNG. 

tlie  colonists.  We  are  a  part  of  them.  When  alien 
and  hostile  races  have  come  together,  as  we  have  just 
seen,  one  has  had  to  succumb  to  the  other ;  but  when 
different  peoples  of  the  same  family  have  been  brought 
together,  there  has  invariably  been  a  fusion,  and  the 
result  has  been  an  improved  and  powerful  class.  When 
three  branches  of  the  great  Teutonic  family  met  on  the 
soil  of  England,  they  united.  It  is  true  that  at  fii^t 
there  was  a  distinction  of  caste  among  them  in  conse- 
quence of  the  superiority  in  every  resj)ect  of  the  great 
Norman  peoj)le ;  but,  as  the  others  came  up  to  their 
level,  the  distinctions  were  quietly  effaced,  and  Norman, 
Saxon,  and  Dane  easily  amalgamated.  Thus,  "  a  people 
inferior  to  none  existing  in  the  world  was  formed  by 
the  mixture  of  three  branches  of  the  great  Teutonic 
family  with  each  other  and  the  aboriginal  Britons."* 

In  America  we  see  how  readily  persons  from  all  parts 
of  Europe  assimilate;  but  what  great  difficulty  the 
Negro,  the  Chinese,  and  the  Indian  experience!  We 
find  here  representatives  from  all  the  nations  of  Europe 
easily  blending  with  each  other.  But  we  find  elements 
that  will  not  assimilate.  The  Negro,  the  Indian,  and 
the  Chinese,  who  do  not  belong  to  the  same  family, 
repel  each  other,  and  are  repelled  by  the  Europeans. 
''  The  antagonistic  elements  are  in  contact,  but  refuse  to 
unite,  and  as  yet  no  agent  has  been  found  sufficiently 
potent  to  reduce  them  to  unity." 

But  the  case  with  Americo-Liberians  and  the  abori- 
gines is  quite  different.  We  are  all  descendants  of 
Africa.  In  Liberia  there  may  be  found  persons  of 
almost  every  tribe  in  West-Africa,  from  Senegal  to 
Congo.  And  not  only  do  we  and  the  natives  belong 
to  the  same  race,  but  we  are  also  of  the  same  family. 

*  Macaulay's  History  of  England,  vol.  i.  chap.  1. 


Liberia's  offering.  89 

The  two  peoples  can  no  more  be  kept  from  assimilating 
and  blending  than  water  can  be  kept  from  mingling 
with  its  kindred  elements.  The  policy  of  Liberia  is  to 
diffuse  among  them  as  rapidly  as  possible  the  principles 
of  Christianity  and  civilization,  to  prepare  them  to  take 
an  active  part  in  the  duties  of  the  nationality  which  we 
are  endeavoring  to  erect.  Whence,  then,  comes  the 
slander  which  represents  Liberians  as  "  maintaining  a 
distance  from  the  aborigines — a  constant  and  uniform 
separation"  ? 

To  take  part  in  the  noble  work  in  which  they  are 
engaged  on  that  coast,  the  government  and  people  of 
Liberia  earnestly  invite  the  descendants  of  Africa  in 
this  country.*  In  all  our  feebleness,  we  have  already 
accomplished  something ;  but  very  little  in  comparison 
of  what  has  to  be  done.  A  beginning  has  been  made, 
however  —  a  great  deal  of  preparatory  work  accom- 
plished. And  if  the  intelligent  and  enterprising  co- 
lored people  of  this  country  wonld  emigrate  in  large 
numbers,  an  important  work  would  be  done  in  a  short 
time.  And  we  know  exactly  the  kind  of  work  that 
would  be  done.  We  know  that  where  now  stand  un- 
broken forests  would  spring  up  towns  and  villages, 
with  their  schools  and  churches- — that  the  natives 
would  be  taught  the  arts  of  civilization — that  their 
energies  would  be  properly  directed — that  their  preju- 
dices would  disappear — that  there  would  be  a  rapid 
and  important  revulsion  from  the  practices  of  heathen- 
ism, and  a  radical  change  in  their  social  condition — 

*  The  Legislature  of  Liberia,  at  its  last  session,  1861-62,  passed  an  Act 
authorizing  the  appointment  of  Commissioners  to  "itinerate  among  and 
lecture  to  the  people  of  color  in  the  United  States  of  North-America,  to 
present  to  them  the  claims  of  Liberia,  and  its  superior  advantages  as  a 
desirable  home  for  persons  of  African  descent."  The  President  appointed 
for  this  work,  Professors  Crummell  and  Blyden  and  J.  D.  Johnson,  Esq. 


90  Liberia's  offering. 

tliat  the  glorious  principles  of  a  Christian  civilization 
would  diffuse  themselves  throughout  those  benighted 
communities.  Oh !  that  our  people  would  take  this 
matter  into  serious  consideration,  and  think  of  the 
great  privilege  of  kindling  in  the  depths  of  the  moral 
and  spiritual  gloom  of  Africa  a  glorious  light — of  caus- 
ing the  wilderness  and  the  solitary  place  to  be  glad — 
the  desert  to  bloom  and  blossom  as  the  rose — and  the 
whole  land  to  be  converted  into  a  garden  of  the  Lord. 
Liberia,  then,  ap]3eals  to  the  colored  men  of  this 
country  for  assistance  in  the  noble  work  which  she  has 
begun.  She  appeals  to  those  who  believe  that  the 
descendants  of  Africa  live  in  the  serious  neglect  of  their 
duty  if  they  fail  to  help  to  raise  the  land  of  their  fore- 
fathers from  her  degradation.  She  appeals  to  those 
who  believe  that  a  well-established  African  nationality 
is  the  most  direct  and  efficient  means  of  securing  re- 
spectability and  independence  for  the  African  race. 
She  appeals  to  those  who  believe  that  a  rich  and  fertile 
country,  like  Africa,  which  has  lain  so  long  under  the 
cheerless  gloom  of  ignorance,  should  not  be  left  any 
longer  without  the  influence  of  Christian  civilization — 
to  those  who  deem  it  a  far  more  glorious  work  to  save 
extensive  tracts  of  country  from  barbarism  and  con- 
tinued degradation  than  to  amass  for  themselves  the 
means  of  individual  comfort  and  aggrandizement — to 
those  who  believe  that  there  was  a  providence  in  the 
deportation  of  our  forefathers  from  the  land  of  their 
birth,  and  that  that  same  providence  now  points  to  a 
work  in  Africa  to  be  done  by  us  theii*  descendants. 
Finally,  Liberia  appeals  to  all  African  patriots  and 
Christians — to  all  lovers  of  order  and  refinement — to 
lovers  of  industry  and  enterprise  —  of  peace,  comfort, 
and  happiness — to  those  who  having  felt  the  power  of 


libeeia's  offewng.  91 

the  Gospel  in  opening  up  to  tliem  life  and  immortality, 
are  desirous  that  their  benighted  kindred  should  share 
in  the  same  blessings.  "  Behold,  the  Lord  thy  God 
hath  set  the  land  before  thee  :^o  up  and  possess  it,  as 
the  Lord  God  of  thy  fathers  hath  said  unto  thee ;  fear 
not,  neither  be  discouraged." 


INAUGURAL  ADDRESS 


AT    THE 


mAUGUKATION  OF  LIBERIA  COLLEGE, 


AT  MONROVIA, 


JANTT^RY     23,     186S. 


INAUGURAL   ADDRESS. 


Gentlemen  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  Hespected 

Audience : 

An  old  and  venerable  custom,  existing  in  countries 
where  colleges  and  universities  Lave  been  long  estab- 
lished, requii'es  that  he  who  is  entering  upon  the  re- 
sponsible office  of  Professor,  should  publicly  express 
the  views  which  he  entertains  of  the  duties  devolved 
upon  him,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  will  discharge 
those  duties.  It  is  in  accordance  with  this  custom  that 
I  appear  before  you  to-day. 

This  is  an  auspicious  day  for  Liberia,  and  for  West- 
Africa.  The  first  College  Edifice  erected  on  this  be- 
nighted shore  has  been  completed;  and  we,  descend- 
ants of  Africa,  are  assembled  to  inaugurate  it.  Perhaps 
this  very  day,  one  century  ago,  some  of  our  forefathers 
were  being  dragged  to  the  hold  of  some  miserable 
slaver,  to  enter  upon  those  horrible  sufferings  of  the 
"middle  passage,"  preliminary  to  their  introduction 
into  scenes  and  associations  of  deeper  woe.  To-day, 
their  descendants  having  escaped  the  fiery  ordeal  of 
oppression  and  slavery,  and  having  returned  to  their 
ancestral  home,  are  laying  the  foundation  of  intellectual 
empire,  upon  the  very  soil  whence  then*  fathers  were 
torn,  in  their  ignorance  and  degradation.  Strange  and 
mysterious  providence ! 


96  Liberia's  offering. 

It  is  among  tte  most  fortunate  circumstances,  con- 
nected witli  the  founding  of  Liberia,  that  schools  of  a 
higli  order,  and  now  a  college,  should  be  established  in 
this  early  period  of  her  history.  It  is  impossible  to 
maintain  our  national  independence,  or  grow  in  the  ele- 
ments of  national  prosperity,  unless  the  people  are  gene- 
rally imbued  with  a  proper  sense  of  their  duties  and 
responsibilities,  as  citizens  of  a  free  government.  The 
duties  which  devolve  upon  the  citizens  of  Liberia,  are 
as  diversified  and  important  as  those  which  devolve 
upon  citizens  of  larger  nations  and  communities ;  and, 
in  order  to  discharge  those  duties  faithfully  and  suc- 
cessfully, we  need  all  the  fitness  and  qualification  which 
citizens  of  larger  nations  possess.  To  say,  as  has  been 
too  often  said,  by  persons  abroad  and  by  pei"Sons  here, 
that  the  establishment  of  a  college  in  Liberia  at  present 
is  premature,  is  to  set  aside  the  experience  of  older 
countries,  and  to  ignore  the  testimony  which  comes  to 
us  from  a  hundred  communities  far  in  advance  of  us, 
showing  the  indispensableness  of  institutions  of  a  higher 
order,  to  send  down,  through  all  the  ramifications  of 
society,  the  streams  of  wholesome  and  elevating  influ- 
ence. 

I  regard  this,  then,  as  an  auspicious  day  for  Liberia ; 
hoping  that  there  will  be  such  a  feeling  of  appreciation, 
on  the  part  of  our  people,  of  the  importance  of  this  In- 
stitution, and  such  active  cooperation  with  it,  as  shall 
render  it  useful  as  a  means  of  building  us  up  in  all 
those  qualities  which  shall  fit  us  for  the  discharge  of 
our  various  duties,  and  draw  towards  us  the  attention 
and  respect  of  the  civilized  world. 

The  fear  need  not  be  entertained  that  a  course  of 
study  in  this  Institution  will  unfit  men  for  the  practical 
duties  of  life,  render  them  proud,  and  distant,  and 


libekia's  offering.  97 

haughty,  and  overbearing.  Siicli  is  not  the  effect  of  a 
true  education.  I  am  aware  that  there  prevails  with 
some — and  perhaps  not  entirely  without  foundation — 
the  opinion  that  the  effect  of  superior  education  is  to 
inflate  men  and  render  them  impracticable.  There 
have  been  some  among  us  who,  not  having  trodden 
even  the  threshold  of  the  temple  of  knowledge,  have 
assumed  an  air  of  mysteriousness  and  profundity,  in 
order  to  impress  the  multitude  with  their  intellectual 
superiority  and  extraordinary  importance.  This  is  not, 
however,  the  legitimate  effect  of  true  knowledge.  They 
are  utter  strangers  to  the  genial  influence  of  literature 
upon  the  social  sentiments,  who  suppose  that  men  must 
be  distant,  and  haughty,  and  cold,  in  proportion  as  they 
are  profound.  The  man  who  has  really  ascended  Par- 
nassus, does  not  encounter  there,  as  on  some  Alpine 
summit,  everlasting  snows  and  ice,  which  chill  and  con- 
tract the  heart.  No  ;  he  finds  himself  in  a  warm  and 
delightfal  atmosphere,  which  expands  the  heart,  quick- 
ens the  emotions,  arouses  the  slumbering  affections  of 
the  soul,  and  fits  him  for  communication  and  commu- 
nion with  other  minds ;  so  that  he  experiences  the 
greatest  possible  pleasure,  in  participating  with  others 
the  benefits  he  enjoys.  He  does  not,  when  he  ascends 
the  hill  of  science,  find  there  luxuriant  groves  which 
allure  him  into  ease  and  inactivity,  where,  like  Tityrus, 

"  Patulae  recubans  sub  tegmine  fagi," 

he  might  pass  life  away  in  quiet  enjoyment.  No ;  he 
has  only  reached  a  point  from  which  he  can  contem- 
plate the  work  to  be  done,  and  gather  materials  for  car- 
rying it  on. 

Every  country  has  its  peculiar  circumstances   and 
characteristics.     So  has  Liberia.     From  this  fact,  it  has 
often  been  argued  that  w^e  need  a  peculiar  kind  of  edu- 
7 


98  Liberia's  offerixg. 

cation ;  not  so  mucli  colleges  and  higli  schools,  as  otlier 
means,  wliicli  are  more  immediately  and  obviously  con- 
nected with  our  progi'ess.  But  to  tliis  we  reply,  that 
if  we  are  a  part  of  the  human  family,  we  have  the  same 
intellectual  needs  that  other  men  have,  and  they  must 
be  su2')plied  by  the  same  means.  It  shows  a  painful  ig- 
norance of  history,  to  consider  the  present  state  of 
things  in  Liberia  as  new  and  unprecedented,  in  such  a 
sense  as  to  render  dispensable  those  most  important  and 
fundamental  means  of  improvement,  which  other  coun- 
tries have  enjoyed.  Mind  is  every  where  the  same ; 
and  every  where  it  receives  character  and  formation 
from  the  same  elemental  principles.  If  it  have  been 
properly  formed  and  have  received  a  substantial  charac- 
ter, it  will  work  out  its  own  calling,  solve  its  own  j)ro- 
blem,  achieve  its  own  destiny. 

No  country  in  the  world  needs,  more  than  Liberia, 
to  have  mind  properly  directed.  We  are  here  isolated 
from  the  civilized  world,  and  surrounded  by  a  benighted 
people,  with  whom  we  are  closely  identified.  And,  in 
these  circumstances,  we  are  making  the  experiment, 
which,  I  venture  to  say,  has  never  been  made  before,  of 
establishing  and  maintaining  a  popular  government, 
with  a  population,  for  the  most  part,  of  emancipated 
slaves.  The  government  is  thrown  into  the  hands  of 
the  people,  and  they  are  called  upon  to  give  their 
opinions  upon  all  subjects  which  can  affect  us  as  a  na- 
tion ;  upon  all  the  difficult  subjects  of  finance,  of  legis- 
lation, and  the  most  intricate  points  of  constitutional 
law.  Not  only  do  they  utter  their  opinions,  but  it  is 
their  right  and  privilege  to  act  upon  these  opinions ; 
and  they  do  act  upon  them — with  what  success,  alas ! 
we  are  too  well  aware.  And  in  addition  to  these  polit- 
ical responsibilities,  we  have  philanthropic  duties  to 


Liberia's  offering.  99 

perform  towards  our  aboriginal  brethren — duties  which 
require  no  little  degree  of  intelligence  and  virtue, 

De  Tocqueville  informs  us  that,  before  the  colony 
that  landed  at  Plymouth  was  as  old  as  Liberia,  there 
were  laws  enacted,  establishing  schools  in  every  town- 
ship, and  obliging  the  inhabitants,  under  pain  of  heavy 
fines,  to  support  them.  Schools  of  a  superior  kind 
were  founded  in  the  same  manner  in  the  more  pop- 
ulous districts.  The  municipal  authorities  were  bound 
to  enforce  the  sending  of  children  to  school  by  their 
parents.*  It  is  certainly  a  very  remarkable  fact,  that, 
in  New-England,  by  the  time  the  first  child  born  in 
the  colony  had  reached  a  proper  age  for  admission 
to  college,  a  college  was  established.  They  did  not 
wait  to  have  all  those  preparations,  which  some  have 
fancied  are  necessary  before  Liberians  can  reap  the 
benefit  of  a  colleo-e.  We  are  informed  that  the  forests 
were  yet  standing ;  the  Indian  was  still  the  near  neigh- 
bor of  the  largest  settlements ;  the  colonists  were  yet 
dependent  on  the  mother  country  for  the  very  necessa- 
ries of  life ;  and  the  very  permanence  of  their  settle- 
ments was  as  yet  undecided,  when  they  were  erecting 
high  schools  and  colleges.  They  did  not  regard  it  as 
too  early  to  provide  for  the  thorough  education  of  their 
children.  They  had  left  their  fatherland  to  seek  an 
asylum  of  liberty  on  those  distant  shores,  and  they  well 
knew  that  intelligence  was  indispensable  to  the  enjoy- 
ment and  maintenance  of  true  liberty. 

The  people  of  the  South  were  no  less  eager  to  pro- 
vide themselves  with  the  means  of  education.  The 
colony  of  Virginia  was  still  struggling  against  the  diffi- 
ties  and  embarrassments  incident  to  feeble  settlements, 
when  the  first  efforts  were  made  by  the  inhabitants  to 

*  Democracy  in  America,  vol.  i.  chap.  7. 


100  Liberia's  offering. 

establisli  a  college.  As  early  as  1619,  grants  of  land, 
and  liberal  subscriptions,  were  obtained  for  the  endow- 
ment of  tlie  University  of  Heni'ico ;  and  we  may  form 
some  idea  of  the  weak  state  of  the  colony,  when  we 
learn  that  the  University  was  destroyed  by  an  Indian 
massacre,  and  that  the  colony  came  very  near  being  ex- 
terminated. Before  the  close  of  that  centmy,  however, 
the  College  of  William  and  Mary  was  in  successful 
operation.* 

Why  then  should  not  Liberia,  after  forty  years'  exist- 
ence, having  secured  the  confidence  and  respect  of  the 
aboriginal  tribes,  enjoy  the  means  of  superior  educa- 
tion ?  The  name  College^  applied  to  this  Institution,  may 
seem  ambitious ;  but  it  is  not  too  early  in  our  history 
for  us  to  aim  at  such  institutions.  Of  course  we  can 
not  expect  that  it  will  at  once  fulfill  all  the  conditions 
of  colleges  in  advanced  countries ;  but  it  may,  in  time, 
as  many  American  colleges  have  done,  grow  into  an  In- 
stitution of  respectability  and  extensive  usefulness. 

It  can  not  be  denied,  that  the  studies  which  shall  be 
pursued  in  this  Institution  are  of  great  utility  to  this 
country  just  now.  The  college  course  will  include  all 
those  studies  by  which  a  people's  mind  and  heart  are 
formed.  We  shall  have  the  study  of  language  in  the 
most  perfect  forms  in  which  it  has  ever  been  spoken  by 
man  —  a  study  which,  as  we  shall  endeavor  to  show, 
aids  greatly  in  the  training  and  discipline  of  the  mind. 

We  shall  have  the  study  of  mathematics  and  physi- 
cal science — which  involves,  of  course,  a  study  of  the 
laws  of  nature,  and  the  acquirement  of  the  essential 
preliminary  knowledge  of  all  calculations,  measure- 
ments and  observations,  on  the  sea  and  on  the  land. 

We  shall  have— =- besides  jurisprudence  and  interna- 

*  President  Hale's  Inaugural  Address,  Geneva  College,  1836. 


Liberia's  offering.  101 

tional  law — tlie  study  of  intellectual  and  moral  philo- 
sophy, by  wliich  is  gained  a  knowledge  of  the  mind,  and 
the  laws  of  thought,  and  of  our  duties  to  ourselves,  to 
our  fellow-men,  to  society,  and  to  God. 

Will  any  one  of  the  studies,  which  I  have  enumer- 
ated, be  superfluous  in  Liberia  ?  So  far  from  it,  the 
course  does  not  supply  all  our  deficiencies. 

But  we  need  ^ipmctical  education  in  Liberia.  True ; 
and  so  did  the  fii\st  settlers  of  North- America.  And 
does  not  the  college  course  supply  such  an  education  ? 
What  is  a  practical  education  ?  It  is  not  simply  pre- 
paring a  person  specially  for  any  one  sphere  of  life.  It 
aims  at  practical  results  of  a  more  important  character 
— at  imparting  not  sim]3ly  skill  in  keeping  accounts  — 
in  pleading  at  the  bar — in  surveying  land — in  navigat- 
ing a  vessel — but  skill  in  exercising  the  intellect  accu- 
rately and  readily,  upon  any  subject  brought  before  it. 
The  skill  secm'ed  by  a  college  education,  is  skill  in  the 
use  of  the  mind. 

The  influence  of  the  colleges  planted  in  New-England, 
and  elsewhere  in  the  United  States,  in  their  early  days, 
was  most  remarkable.  "  The  eloquence  nurtured  at 
Harvard,  rung  like  a  trumpet-call,  through  town  and 
forest,  to  rouse  the  quiet  inhabitants  to  the  revolution- 
ary struggle  ;  and  the  intelligence  and  learning  which, 
starting  from  her  classic  shades,  had  been  diffused 
through  the  whole  community,  had  prepared  all  for 
understanding  and  discussing  the  principles  of  that 
liberty  which  belonged  to  them  as  men,  and  was  guar- 
anteed to  them  by  the  British  constitution.  Many  of 
the  lofty  spirits  of  those  times  were  taught  to  reason, 
and  prepared  to  meet,  in  the  discussion  of  the  great 
questions  at  issue,  the  ablest  counselors  of  the  old 
world,  and  to  maintain  the  cause  of  their  country  in 


102  Liberia's  offering. 

the  senate  cliamber — in  tliese  early  institutions  of  learn- 
ing. The  success  of  that  country  in  the  struggle  which 
made  her  free,  as  well  as  in  commerce  and  the  arts,  has, 
been  owing  to  the  unusual  intelligence  and  virtue  of 
her  people — virtue,  which  could  not  have  existed  with- 
out intelligence,  and  was  nourished  by  the  same  means 
— and  intelligence,  derived  from  her  higher  seats  of 
learning,  and  diffused  through  her  pulpits  and  her  se- 
condary schools,  which,  obtaining  from  the  colleges 
educated  teachers,  shone  with  a  borrowed  but  most 
salutary  light  upon  the  humblest  cottages  of  the  land." 
As  I  remarked  at  the  outset,  the  usage  which  brings 
me  before  you  to-day,  enjoins  upon  the  speaker  a  toj^ic 
which  shall  not  be  alien  from  the  work  in  which  he  is 
to  be  engaged  in  the  Institution.  Allo^v  me,  therefore, 
to  ask  your  kind  attention,  while  I  devote  a  portion  of 
time  to  the  consideration  of  the  subject  of  Language, 
and  to  setting  forth  the  value  and  utility  of  the  Latin 
and  Greek  languages,  as  means  of  education  and  cul- 
ture. 

L  Language  is  not  natural  to  man.  I  mean  that  it 
did  not  originate  mth  man.  In  common  with  other 
animals,  man,  as  soon  as  he  is  born,  can  use  the  voice  as 
a  medium  of  communication,  but  only  in  a  succession  of 
cries ;  he  can  not  articulate ;  he  can  not  use  language 
until  he  is  taught,  or  until  he  acquires  it  by  imitation. 
There  is  a  diversity  of  opinion  with  regard  to  the  origin 
of  language  ;  some  supposing  that  the  first  man  found 
himself  suddenly  endowed  with  the  ability  to  give  ex- 
pression to  his  thoughts  by  oral  sounds ;  while  others 
maintain  that,  like  all  other  attainments  of  man,  lan- 
guage was  made  gradually.  The  latter  opinion  seems 
the  more  reasonable.  We  can  not,  from  all  we  know 
of  man,  believe  that  this  very  imi^ortant  means  of  in- 


libeeia's  offeeixg.  103 

tercourse  witli  liis  fellows — of  conveying  his  tliouglits, 
feelings,  and  experiences,  to  distant  generations,  was 
left  to  Ms  invention,  or  to  liis  precarious  ingenuity. 
Man,  left  to  Mmself,  lias  never  discovered  any  means  of 
conveying  his  thoughts  by  articulate  sounds.  It  is  con- 
clusively proved,  that  new-born  babes,  when  left  to 
themselves,  or  exposed  among  beasts,  utter  only  sounds 
in  imitation  of  those  beasts.*  The  most  natural  way 
to  man,  of  expressing  his  ideas,  is  by  signs.  This  is  the 
universal  language.  This  is  the  only  way  that  deaf 
mutes,  who  can  not  hear  and  imitate  sounds,  can  con- 
vey their  own  and  receive  the  impressions  of  others. 
Nearly  all  the  travelers  among  the  North-American 
Indians  agree  that  they  have  ever  had  a  language  of 
signs,  and  can  understand  each  other  in  this  way,  when 
they  are  unable  to  comprehend  each  other's  sj^eech  ;  so 
that  individuals  of  two  far-distant  Indian  tribes,  w^ho 
understand  not  a  word  of  each  other's  language,  will 
intelligibly  converse  together,  and  contract  engage- 
ments, without  interpreters,  "  in  such  a  surprising  man- 
ner as  is  scarcely  credible." 

The  infinite  variety  of  languages  which  now  so  much 
impedes  and  incommodes  the  general  intercourse  of 
nations  is  the  result  of  direct  divine  interj)osition- 
The  whole  earth,  prior  to  the  building  of  the  tower  of 
Babel,  was  "  of  one  language,  and  of  one  speech ;"  l^ut 
dming  the  erection  of  that  ambitious  structure,  the  Lord 
"  came  down"  and  "  confounded  their  languao^e."  Philo- 
logists  have  classified  the  various  languages  in  groups, 
or  families ;  but  they  seem  reducible  to  one  primitive 
idiom.  "  Eveiy  progress  in  the  comparative  study  of 
languages,  brings  to  light  new  analogies  in  the  structure 
and  in  the  grammatical  forms  and  affinities  of  the  roots 

*  Bihliotheca  Sacra,  vol.  xviii.  p.  775. 


104  LIBERIA'S  OFFERING. 

• 

and  tenus ;  even  tlie  languages  of  the  new  continents  do 
not  seem  to  be  excej^ted  from  this  general  resemblance." 
A  distinguished  American  philologist  beautifully  says : 
"  Nothing  is  found  in  the  realms  of  speech,  any  more 
than  in  those  of  nature,  'without  father  or  mother.' 
Here,  as  eveiy  where  else,  the  maxim  is  true,  '  Ex  nihilo, 
nihil  fit.'  The  languages,  therefore,  of  the  world,  like 
the  men  who  have  spoken  them,  have  all  been  bound  to- 
gether by  a  regular  series  of  sequences,  running  link  by 
link  in  luminous  beauty,  from  any  and  every  language 
now  spoken  upon  earth,  to  the  first  language  in  which 
listening  angels  heard  Adam  and  Eve  discom^se  to  each 
other ;  and  from  that  back  to  God  himself,  the  great 
All-in-all,  fr'om  whose  own  girdle  the  golden  chain  of 
human  sj^eech  divine  was  di'opped  lovingly  down  to 
man,  in  order  to  bind  him  to  himself,  and  all  nations 
in  heavenly  sympathy  with  each  other."*  Says  Dr. 
Kalisch,  an  able  Hebrew  divine:  "The  linguistic  re- 
searches of  modern  times  have  more  and  more  confinned 
the  theory  of  one  primitive  Asiatic  language,  gradually 
developed  into  the  various  modifications  by  external 
agencies  and  influences.  Formerly  the  Hebrew  tongue 
was,  by  many  scholars,  advocated  as  the  original  idiom ; 
for  it  was  maintained  both  by  early  Jemsh  and  Christ- 
ian authorities,  that  as  the  race  of  Shem  were  no  part- 
ners in  the  impious  work  of  the  Tower,  they  remained 
in  possession  of  the  first  language,  which  the  fathers  of 
the  earliest  age  had  left  to  Noah ;  but  this  view,  like 
the  more  recent  one,  that  a  child,  if  left  alone,  T\dthout 
human  society,  would  speak  Hebrew,  is  now  classed 
among  the  popular  errors."f 

The  greater  number  of  scientific  wiiters  on  language, 
agree  that  there  was  one  primitive  language,  ft'om  which 

*  Dwight,  Bih.  Sacra,  vol.  xv.  p.  404. 

\  Historical  and  Critical  Comment  on  Genem,  chap.  xi. 


libeeia's  offeeing.  105 

all  tlie  languages  now  spoken  have  sprung,  and  that 
that  language  was  communicated  to  man  by  the  Al- 
mighty. The  question  as  to  which  language  it  was,  is 
not  quite  settled;  at  present  the  ^probability  inclines 
more  to  the  Sanscrit. 

II.  Language  is  progressive.  God  did  not,  in  other 
departments  of  his  work,  make  at  once  fidl  and  com- 
plete manifestations ;  there  was  a  gradual  unfolding, 
according  to  circumstances,  until  there  came  to  pass  a 
fall  development.  So  we  have  every  reason  to  believe 
it  was  with  language.  Man,  in  his  primitive  condition, 
did  not  possess  all  those  mental  states  and  wants  which 
only  age  and  experience  could  bring  with  them;  he 
could  not,  therefore,  have  words  to  express  what  he  had 
not  seen,  felt,  or  heard ;  nor  could  he  form  any  concep- 
tions, excej)t  from  the  things  with  which  he  was  then 
in  contact.  When,  therefore,  the  Divine  Being  assisted 
or  instructed  the  first  man  to  express  by  words  his  feel- 
ings, intentions,  and  thoughts,  the  instruction  was  adapt- 
ed to  his  wants  and  circumstances.  The  simple  forms 
of  lano;uao-e  which  he  then  received,  have  been  succes- 
sively  developed,  and  modified,  and  perfected,  according 
as  man  has  increased  in  the  necessities  and  the  arts  of 
life.  We  find  that  among  barbarous  tribes,  language 
is  rude  and  deficient  in  point  of  words;  so  that  the 
civilized  foreigner,  who  wishes  to  convey  his  own  ideas 
through  the  medium  of  such  language,  finds  insuper- 
able difficulties.  Words  are  multij^lied  in  proportion 
as  the  number  of  the  ideas  of  a  people  is  increased. 
Language  "  begins  mth  the  dawn  of  reflective  con- 
sciousness, and  unfolds  itself  as  this  becomes  deeper 
and  clearer."* 

*  Professor  Shedd's  Address  on  the  Relation  of  Language  to  Thought. 


106  Liberia's  offering. 

Even  in  liigWy  ciHlized  countries,  the  vernacular, 
strictly  speaking,  or  tlie  language  spoken  by  tLe  masses, 
is  very  limited  as  to  words,  compared  witk  the  language 
of  the  educated.  It  is  said  that  in  England,  the  lower 
classes  can  not  understand  above  one  fom*th  part  of  that 
English  which  the  higher  classes  speak.  If  any  of  the 
former  visit  the  House  of  Lords,  they  sometimes  sit 
with  as  much  astonishment  and  disprofit,  as  if  the  de- 
bates were  conducted  in  a  new  language.  The  vocabu- 
lary of  terms  used  in  the  Houses  of  Parliament  is  one 
which  is  never  pressed  into  the  service  of  the  common 
23eople.* 

The  character  of  the  language  spoken  by  any  peo23le 
is,  therefore,  a  sure  standard  by  which  to  judge  of  the 
attainments  of  that  people  in  the  arts  of  life.  The 
poverty  of  the  language  of  the  ancient  Britons,  if  we 
had  no  other  proof  of  their  extremely  rude  condition, 
would  be  enough  to  con\dnce  us  that  they  had  made 
very  little  progress  in  civilization.  Even  after  the 
Saxon  and  Danish  lans^uasces  had  been  blended  with 
each  other,  and  with  the  aboriginal  tongue,  still  the 
composite  language  had  no  "  aptitude  for  all  the  highest 
purposes  of  the  poet,  the  philosopher,  and  the  orator," 
until  it  had  been  enriched  by  contributions  fi'om  the 
languages  of  Greece  and  Rome.  Take  any  of  the  lead- 
ing English  historians,  Hume,  Gibbon,  Hallam,  or  Ma- 
caulay,  and  you  will  find  that  nearly  three  foiu'ths  of 
the  words  emj^loyed  by  them  are  of  foreign  origin ; 
because  there  were  no  poets  or  philosophers,  historians 
or  orators,  amons;  the  aborioiual  inhabitants  of  that 
countiy.  The  language  has  progressed  as  the  people 
have  improved. 

*  Py croft's  Ways  and  Words  of  3Ien  of  Letters. 


Liberia's  offering.  107 

III.  Language  lies  at  tlie  beginning  and  occnj^ies  an 
important  j)lace  in  tlie  continuation  of  all  human  educa- 
tion. The  child  must  first  learn  to  understand  language 
before  he  can  receive  ideas  in  any  great  number  or  varie- 
ty ;  and  he  must  learn  to  speak  before  he  can  express  his 
wants.  And  when  he  grows  up,  if,  in  his  early  years, 
he  has  neglected  the  study  of  language,  it  matters  not 
what  progress  or  discoveries  he  may  make  in  j^hysical 
or  mathematical  science ;  before  his  knowledge  can  be 
made  available,  he  must  learn  the  use  of  language. 
This  was  the  exi^erience  of  George  Stephenson,  of  rail- 
way notoriety,  of  Hugh  Miller,  and  of  others  who,  by 
force  of  "  good,  original  brain,"  have  arisen  ft'om  a  child- 
hood of  obscurity  and  poverty,  to  a  useful  and  dis- 
tin2:uished  manhood. 

The  mastery  of  language,  then,  is  a  very  imj)ortant  ele- 
ment in  oui'  qualification  for  usefulness.  All  our  attain- 
ments would  be  useless,  so  far  as  accomplishing  theii' 
true  end  is  concerned,  if  we  had  no  means  of  cominu 
nion  or  communication  with  other  minds.  The  true 
uses  of  knowledge  are  not  to  be  found  in  centralization, 
but  in  distribution.  And  it  is  only  by  this  distribu 
tion  of  oiu'  intellectual  resoui'ces  that  we  can  enlarge 
them.  Here  also  the  scriptural  assertion  is  verified: 
"  There  is  that  scattereth,  and  yet  increaseth ;  there  is 
that  withholdeth  more  than  is  meet,  and  it  tendeth  to 
poverty."  "Shut  up  within  one's  self,  thought  stag- 
nates and  knowledge  decays."  Language,  therefore,  as 
the  instrument  which  an  unerring  Divinity  has  given 
to  man  for  communicatino;  thouo;ht  and  feelino;,  should 
be  carefidly  studied  and  mastered,  not  only  in  its  gram- 
matical inflections  and  syntactical  combinations,  but  in 
its  original  and  derivative  asj)ects. 

As  a  means  of  thus  mastering  language,  of  under- 


108  Liberia's  offering. 

standing  its  genius  and  power,  all  tlie  distinguislied 
educators  of  modern  times  have  cliosen  tlie  study  of  the 
Greek  and  Latin  languages.  The  Greek  language  is 
artistic  and  complete  in  its  grammatical  stnictm'e — a 
language  of  gracefulness  and  beauty,  and  highly  adapt- 
ed to  aesthetic  culture.  The  cultivation  of  the  beauti- 
ftd  is  one  of  the  first  steps  towards  ci\dlization.  The 
Greeks,  who  as  a  nation  were  the  type  of  beauty,  were 
an  element  in  the  develoj)ment  of  mankind ;  and  their 
language  is  indispensable  to  the  opening  of  the  mind 
for  the  reception  and  pursuit  of  abstract  ideas.  It  was 
a  language  which  the-  Romans  assiduously  studied,  as  a 
means  of  cultm^e.  The  greatest  orators  and  poets  of 
Rome  were  cultivated  by  it.  The  famous  advice  of 
Horace  will  recm^  to  the  classical  reader : 

"Vos  exemplaria  Graeca 
Nocturna  versate  manu,  versate  diurna."  * 

The  Latin  language  must  be  studied,  not  only  for  the 
disciplinary  influence  of  the  study  upon  the  mind,  but 
for  its  vast  resources ;  its  inward  treasui'es,  as  well  as 
its  outward  relations.  It  is  connected  with  nearly  all 
the  languages  of  the  past,  and  has  contributed  of  its 
wealth  to  the  formation  of  all  the  important  modern 
languages.  Its  acquisition  is  really  the  key  to  a  tho- 
rough knowledge  of  all  the  languages  of  the  enlight- 
ened part  of  mankind. 

The  Latin  and  Greek  languages  have  famished  all 
the  linguistic  culture,  and  have  contributed  to  all  the 
rich  results  of  the  higher  education  of  the  whole  civil- 
ized world,  for  the  last  two  thousand  years.  They  who 
contemptuously  speak  of  them  as  "dead"  languages, 
know  not  that  such  utterances  illustrate  their  own  lack 
of  cultui'e.    These  languages  are  "  dead  "  to  them,  in  all 

*  Epistola  ad  Pisones,  286. 


libeeia's  offering.  109 

tlieii'  inward  beauty  and  force,  and  in  all  tlieii'  outward 
scientific  relations ;  they  can  no  more  appreciate  them, 
than  a  blind  man  can  appreciate  the  colors  of  the  rain- 
bow, or  a  deaf  man  the  sweet  concords  of  music.  To 
men  of  high  culture,  however,  these  languages  are  still 
living,  and  theii'  power  is  every  day  felt.  Without  a 
knowledge  of  them,  no  Englishman,  Frenchman,  Span- 
iard, or  Italian,  can  thoroughly  comprehend  his  o\vn 
vernacular ;  whilst  the  man  who  has  cultivated  an  ac- 
quaintance with  them,  is  possessed  of  the  elements  of 
nearly  all  the  languages  of  Southern  Euroj)e.  Without 
the  slightest  acquaintance  with  the  Italian  language,  he 
will  feel  at  home  in  Italy.  Before  he  has  seen  a  French 
or  Spanish  grammar,  or  heard  a  Frenchman  or  Spaniard 
speak,  he  will  be  able  to  sit  down  and  read,  with  some 
satisfaction,  French  and  Spanish  literature.  Such  is 
the  influence  of  these  "  dead  "  languages  upon  the  liter- 
ature of  the  day. 

The  Greek  and  Latin  languages  must  be  studied  by 
the  English  student,  in  order  to  a  comj)lete  mastery  of 
his  own  language.  The  English  language  is,  for  the 
most  part,  a  derived  language,  secondary  in  its  origin. 
"  Into  the  English,  as  into  the  bosom  of  a  great  central 
sea,  all  the  streams  of  the  past  and  present  have  joom^ed, 
and  are  still  poming  theu-  varied  contents."  To  under- 
stand this  language,  thoroughly,  then,  we  must  give 
attention  to  those  languages  which  have  contributed 
most  largely  to  its  formation.  Many  persons  who,  not 
possessing  a  knowledge  of  these  "  dead "  languages, 
suppose  themselves  to  be  very  good  English  scholars, 
every  day  use  words  whose  meaning  they  do  not  under- 
stand. They  refer  with  great  confidence  to  theii*  Eng- 
lish dictionaries  as  the  ultimate  standard,  not  kno^^dng 
that  even  in  the  best   dictionaries  the  etymological 


110  Liberia's  offering. 

scholar  discovers  fatal  deficiencies.  The  man  who  is 
entirely  devoid  of  a  knowledge  of  the  Greek  and  Latin 
languages  can  never,  generally  speaking,  use  English 
words  with  skill  or  satisfaction  to  himself.  He  can  n6t 
perceive,  in  the  words  which  he  uses,  theii'  original  life 
and  beauty.  He  can  not,  out  of  the  veiy  words  them- 
selves, give  his  reason  for  emj)loying  them  in  preference 
to  others.  He  must  be  the  slave  of  his  dictionary ;  and 
all  his  lexicographical  researches  must  be  uncertain  and 
unsatisfactory.  No  perfection  of  English  scholai'shij^ 
can  be  acquired  without  a  knowledge  of  the  "  dead " 
languages. 

But  there  is  a  still  higher  reason  for  the  study  of 
these  languages,  and  that  is,  the  mental  culture  and 
discipline  which  they  aiford.  No  other  means  has  yet 
been  found  to  supply  their  place,  for  pui*poses  of  scho- 
lastic discipline.  All  the  present  cultm'e  of  Europe, 
and  the  pure  and  elevated  taste  manifested  by  her  best 
scholars,  have  been  derived  from  the  study  of  the  Greek 
and  Roman  writers.  After  the  lapse  of  centuries,  those 
great  masters  of  thought  stand  unrivaled  in  theii'  pecu- 
liar sphere  as  the  intellectual  educators  of  mankind. 
To  neglect  them,  is  to  shut  om^selves  out  from  delight- 
ful associations  mth  the  best  minds.  It  is  thi-ousrh 
them  we  have  access  to  the  most  sacred  places  of 
thought,  and  enjoy  the  influence  of  those  mighty  con- 
ce23tions  which  still  control  the  literary  world.  It  is 
through  them  that  we  are  carried  back  to  the  youthful 
days  of  the  world,  and  enjoy  something  of  the  freshness 
and  vigor  of  those  early  times — the  spring-time  of  hu- 
man intellect.  "  Greece  and  Rome,"  to  quote  the  elo- 
quent language  of  Dr.  Temple,*  "  have  given  us  more 
than  any  results  of  discij)line,  in  the  never-dying  mem- 
oiy  of  their  fi*esh  and  youthful  life.     It  is  this,  and  not 

*  Head-Master  of  Rugby  School. 


Liberia's  offering.  Ill 

only  the  greatness  or  tlie  genius  of  tlie  classical  writers, 
wliicli  makes  tlieir  literature  preeminent  above  all 
otliers.  Tliere  have  been  great  poets,  great  historians, 
great  philosophers,  in  modern  days.  Greece  can  show 
few  ]3oets  equal,  none  superior  to  Shakspeare.  Gib- 
bon, in  many  respects,  stands  above  all  ancient  histo- 
rians. Bacon  was  as  great  a  master  of  philosophy  as 
Aristotle.  Nor,  again,  are  there  wanting,  great  writers 
of  times  older,  as  well  as  of  times  later,  than  the  Greek ; 
as,  for  instance,  the  Hebrew  prophets.  But  the  classics 
possess  a  charm  quite  independent  of  genius.  It  is  not 
their  genius  only  which  makes  them  attractive.  It  is 
the  classic  life,  the  life  of  the  people  of  that  day.  It  is 
the  image  there  only  to  be  seen,  of  om*  highest  natural 
powers  in  their  freshest  vigor.  It  is  the  unattainable 
grace  of  the  prime  of  manhood.  It  is  the  pervading 
sense  of  youthful  beauty.  Hence,  while  we  have  else- 
where great  poems  and  great  histories,  we  never  find 
again  that  universal  radiance  of  fresh  life  which  makes 
even  the  most  commonplace  relics  of  classic  days, 
models  for  our  highest  art.  The  common  workman  of 
those  times  breathed  the  atmosphere  of  the  gods. 
What  are  nqw  the  ornaments  of  our  museums,  were 
then  the  every  day  furniture  of  sitting  and  sleeping- 
rooms.  In  the  great  monuments  of  theii*  literatm'e,  we 
can  taste  this  pure  inspiration  most  largely ;  but  even 
the  most  conmionplace  fragments  of  a  classic  writer, 
are  steeped  in  the  waters  of  the  same  fountain.  Those 
who  compare  the  moderns  with  the  ancients,  genius  for 
genius,  have  no  difiiculty  in  claiming  for  the  former, 
ecpiality,  if  not  victory.  But  the  issue  is  mistaken. 
To  combine  the  highest  powers  of  intellect  with  the 
freshness  of  youth,  was  possible  only  once,  and  that  is 
the  glory  of  the  classic  nations."* 

*  "The  Education  of  the  World,"  in  Kssayn  and  Reviews^  1861. 


112  Liberia's  offering. 

But  it  lias  been  asked :  "  Why  devote  so  mucli  time 
to  the  study  of  those  authors  in  their  own  hmguage, 
when  they  have  been  so  well  and  ably  translated? 
Why  undergo  the  labor  to  traverse  the  same  ground 
which  they  jDassed  over,  to  bring  to  us  those  hidden 
treasures?  Wliy  not  use  oui'  time  and  strength  in 
accomplishing  something  else  V  We  rej^ly,  that  the 
road  to  learning  can  not  be  made  royal.  It  is  time  that 
the  present  ever  gathers  into  itself  the  results  of  the 
past ;  that  the  world  is  to-day  what  it  is,  as  the  result 
of  the  whole  of  its  antecedents ;  that  "  we  reap  the 
fruits  of  the  toil  of  the  men  of  the  earliest  ages ;"  but 
this  is  true  Avith  regard  to  the  race  in  the  aggregate. 
The  individual  man  must  undergo  an  intellectual  dis- 
cipline, more  or  less  severe,  before  he  can  be  j^repared 
to  comprehend  and  to  profit  by  the  results  of  the  past. 
The  faculties  of  the  child  that  is  born  to-day  are  essen- 
tially the  same  as  those  of  the  child  born  in  the  earliest 
period,  and  must  be  developed  by  a  similar  process^ 
though  there  may  be  a  vast  difference  in  the  ultimate 
development.  Of  all  men  of  eminent  abilities,  in  all 
ages,  it  may  be  said: 

"  The  eminence  they  reached  and  kept, 
Was  not  attained  by  sudden  flight, 
But  they,  while  their  companions  slept, 
Were  toiling  upwards  in  the  night." 

Every  man  must  go  over  the  same  ground,  experience 
the  same  toil,  struggle  with  the  same  difficulties.  No 
man,  in  any  generation,  is  born  with  wings  to  enable 
him  to  soar  to  the  lofty  higlits  of  literatm-e  or  science. 
It  is  by  "  slow  degrees,  by  more  and  more,"  that  those 
"  cloudy  summits "  are  "  scaled  and  climbed."  And 
every  man,  as  by  painful  eiforts  he  ascends  those  emi- 
nences, may,  from  the  boundless  prosj^ect  and  varied 
wealth,  bring  contiibutions  to  literatui'e  and  science. 


Liberia's  offering.  113 

The  discipline  of  mind  wliicli  is  secured  from  tlie 
study  of  the  dead  languages  can  not  be  obtained  by 
the  use  of  translations.  They  are  the  only  languages 
which  are  developed  according  to  the  rules  of  j)erfect 
art ;  and  no  other  language  can  fully  supply  theii'  j)lace. 
Besides  the  wholesome  exercise  which  is  derived  from 
the  wei2:hino;  and  balancino;  of  the  meanino;  of  words, 
observing  and  preserving  nice  distinctions,  there  is  the 
process  of  reasoning  which  must  be  employed  in  every 
effort  to  translate.  The  student  who  has  read  one  or 
two  leading  Latin  and  Greek  works,  has  not  much  more 
labor  with  the  lexicon.  AVhat  he  needs  now,  in  prose- 
cuting the  study  of  the  classic  authors,  is  "  a  clear  head 
and  close  attention  to  the  context."*  The  drudgery  of 
"  hunting  up  "  every  word  in  the  lexicon,  is  ended ;  and 
he  has  reached  a  region  of  plodding,  indeed,  but  of 
higher,  intellectual  plodding.  Being  able  to  select  his 
own  meanino;  for  each  word  out  of  the  word  itself  and 
its  connections,  he  goes  beyond  the  mere  forms  of  words 
and  sentences,  to  the  principles  they  contain.  He  im- 
bibes the  spii'it  of  the  writer.  His  mind  enlarges.  He 
learns  to  form  a  correct  estimate  of  the  merits  and  de- 
fects of  composition.  His  taste  is  quickened,  purified, 
and  elevated ;  and  by  being  obliged  to  extend  his  vo- 
cabulary as  mdely  as  that  of  the  author  he  translates, 
he  necessarily  becomes  familiar  mth  a  number  of  new 
words,  of  which,  perhaps,  under  other  circumstances, 
he  might  only  haA^e  heard.  He  thus  acquires  a  com- 
mand of  language,  and  enters  upon  a  course  of  indefi- 
nite improvement  —  a  road  that  leads  to  the  loftiest 
attainment. 

And  then  the  study  of  translations  can  not  introduce 
us  to  a  knowledge  of  the  style  and  beauties  of  the  clas- 

*  Macaulay's  Essay  on  the  Athenian  Orators. 
8 


114  Liberia's  offeeixg. 

sic  authors.  We  must  become  acquainted  witli  tliem 
thi'ougli  tlie  words  tliey  spoke  and  wrote,  and  tlie  man- 
ner in  wliicli  they  spoke  and  wrote  those  words.  It  is 
true  that  the  thoiights  and  opinions  of  Herodotus,  Xenb- 
phon,  and  Demosthenes,  of  Cicero,  Horace,  and  Tacitus, 
may  be  expressed  in  a  translation.  We  may  be  able, 
by  studying  translations,  to  get  something  of  the  sub- 
stance of  the  original.  But  of  the  peculiar  character 
and  spirit  of  the  style  of  the  writer ;  of  those  special 
qualities  which  belong  to  and  are  inseparable  from  the 
languages  in  which  they  "^vi'ote ;  of  those  associations 
which  are  often  linked  to  a  single  word,  and  which  no 
combination  of  English  words  can  ex]^ress — of  all  these 
things,  we  can  get  only  an  imperfect  idea  from  the  most 
exact  translation.  "  The  dead  languages  possess  not 
merely  a  grammatical  structure  essentially  unlike  that 
of  living  languages,  but  a  peculiar  system  of  j^oetic 
symbols,  which,  often  mth  one  exj^ression,  oj)en  an 
entii'e  gallery  of  j^ictures,  that  must  be,  almost  invari- 
ably, lost  in  a  translation."""* 

The  ex|3erience  of  all  the  literary  men  in  the  world 
jiroves  that  the  study  of  classical  literature,  as  a  means 
of  intellectual  culture,  is  highly  important.  But  it 
must  be  pursued  as  a  means,  not  as  an  end ;  not  to 
make  us  expert  in  verbal  criticisms,  or  for  pedantic 
displays,  but  for  the  discipline  of  mind,  which  the 
perusal  and  contemplation  of  the  great  models  impart  ; 
for  the  large,  thoroughly  genial,  and  generous  scholar- 
ship which  they  bestow.  Pursued  in  this  way,  the 
influence  of  classical  literature  can  not  fail  to  be  bene- 
ficial. Sir  Robert  Peel,  who  won  the  fii'st  honors  at 
the  Oxford  University,  both  in  the  classics  and  mathe- 
matics, declared  that  "  by  far  the  greater  portion  of  the 

*  Bishop  Esaia"!  Tegner. 


Liberia's  OFFEnma.  115 

chief  names  tliat  liave  floated  down  on  tile  stream  of 
time,  are  those  of  men  eminent  for  classical  acquire- 
ments and  classical  tastes."  "  Take  the  Cambrido-e 
Calendar,  for  two  hundred  years,"  says  Lord  Macaulay, 
"  look  at  the  Church,  the  Parliament,  or  the  Bar,  and  it 
has  always  been  the  case  that  the  men  who  were  first 
in  the  comj^etition  of  the  schools  have  been  the  first  in 
the  competition  of  life."  All  the  distinguished  schoLars 
of  Great  Britain  have  been  deeply  imbued  with  clas- 
sical learning.  Curran,  the  Irish  orator,  canied  his 
Vii'gil  always  in  his  230cket.  Fox  was  devoted  to  the 
classics.  Sheridan  pored  over  Ermpides  by  night  and 
by  day.  Pitt  is  said  to  have  been  the  best  Greek 
scholar  in  England.  Lord  Brougham  —  himself  a  mar- 
vel of  classical  lore — in  giving  an  account  of  the  manner 
in  which  Robertson,  the  historian,  studied  composition, 
says :  "  Translations  from  the  classics,  and  especially 
from  the  Greek,  of  which  he  was  a  perfect  master, 
formed  a  considerable  i)art  of  his  labor.  He  considered 
this  exercise  as  well  calculated  to  give  an  accm'ate 
knowledge  of  our  own  language,  by  obliging  us  to 
weig-h  the  shades  of  difference  between  words  or 
phrases,  and  to  find  the  expression,  whether  by  the 
selection  of  the  terms  or  the  tm-ning  of  the  idiom, 
which  is  requii'ed  for  a  given  meaning,"''^  The  same 
distinguished  nobleman  gives  the  following  advice  — 
the  result  of  his  own  rich  and  varied  experience  —  to 
a  young  student : 

"  If  he  would  be  a  great  orator,  he  must  go  at  once  to  the  fountain-head, 
and  be  familiar  with  every  one  of  the  great  orations  of  Demosthenes.  His 
taste  will  improve  every  time  he  reads  and  repeats  to  himself,  (for  he  should 
have  the  fine  passages  by  heart,)  and  he  will  learn  how  much  may  be  done 
by  a  skillful  use  of  a  few  words,  and  a  rigorous  rejection  of  superfluities. 
In  this  view,  I  hold  a  famihar  knowledge  of  Dante  to  be  next  to  Demosthe- 

*  Lives  of  Men  of  Letters  and  Science. 


116  Liberia's  offerixg. 

nes.  It  is  in  vain  to  say  that  imitations  of  these  models  won't  do  for  our 
times.  First,  I  do  not  counsel  any  imitation,  but  only  an  imbibing  of  the 
same  spirit.  Secondly,  I  know  from  experience,  that  nothing  is  half  so 
successful  in  these  times,  (Ijad  though  they  be,)  as  what  has  been  formed 
on  the  Greek  models.  I  use  a  very  poor  instance  in  giving  my  own  experi- 
ence, but  I  do  assure  you,  that  both  in  courts  of  law  and  Parliament,  and 
even  to  mobs,  I  have  never  made  so  much  play,  (to  use  a  very  modern 
phrase,)  as  when  I  was  almost  translating  from  the  Greek.  I  composed 
the  peroration  of  my  speech  for  the  Queen  in  the  Lords,  after  reading  and 
repeating  Demosthenes  for  three  or  four  weeks,  and  I  composed  it  twenty 
times  over  at  least,  and  it  certainly  succeeded  in  a  very  extraordinary  degree, 
and  far  above  any  merits  of  its  own."* 

But  it  is  objected  to  tliese  classical  pursuits,  that 
these  are  practical  times,  and  tlie  facilities  for  practical 
information  are  so  multitudinous  that  it  is  far  more 
profitable  for  the  purposes  of  life  to  devote  attention  to 
the  exuberance  and  diversity  of  knowledge  to  be  found 
in  the  innumerable  newspapers  and  2:)eriodicals  of  the 
day  than  to  waste  time  in  poring  over  the  relics  of 
antiquity ;  that,  in  these  days,  when  the  prodigious 
powers  of  the  press  are  developed  in  the  regular  and 
unceasing  issue  of  pamphlets  and  tracts,  works  in  series 
and  light  literatui'e,  men  might  dispense  with  every 
other  means  of  improvement  and  instruction.  "  Why 
need  we  go  up  to  knowledge  when  knowledge  comes 
down  to  us  ?"  To  this  we  reply  once  more,  that  cidture 
must  be  attained  by  the  same  means  by  which  it  has 
always  been  attained.  Every  man,  before  he  can  be 
fitted  for  the  more  important  intellectual  achievements, 
must  tread  the  highAvay  of  hard  work  and  laborious 
practice.  The  mind  must  fii'st  be  formed  before  it  can 
be  filled  to  advantage.  Our  real  improvement  depends 
not  so  much  upon  the  quantity  as  upon  the  quality  of 
what  the  mind  takes  in,  and  upon  the  manner  in  which 

*  Letter  to  Zacliary  Macaulay,  in  1823,  with  reference  to  his  son,  Thomas  Bab- 
ingtou  Macaulay,  the  historian,  then  at  Cambridge. 


Liberia's  offering.  117 

it  is  taken  in.  Lord  Macaulay  tells  ns,  tliat  "  Rumford 
j)roposed  to  the  Elector  of  Bavaria  a  scheme  for  feed- 
ing his  soldiers  at  a  much  cheaper  rate  than  formerly. 
His  plan  was  simply  to  comj^el  them  to  masticate  their 
food  thoroughl}^.  A  small  quantity  thus  eaten,  accord- 
ing to  that  famous  projector,  affords  more  sustenance 
than  a  large  meal  hastily  devoured."''^  Thus  it  is  with 
the  mind ;  not  the  cramming,  but  the  mastication  and 
the  digestion  secure  the  nutriment,  A  man  may  con- 
stantly devour  all  the  periodicals  and  newspapers,  as 
they  are  daily  issued  throughout  the  world,  and  after 
he  has  gathered  all  the  information  they  contain,  may 
not  be  as  well  prepared  for  usefulness  and  efficiency  in 
the  world  of  letters  as  the  man  who  has  patiently  given 
his  time  and  attention  to  one  or  two  of  the  great  mas- 
ters in  the  language  in  which  they  wi'ote.  Some  of 
the  great  English  wi^iters  devoted  nearly  all  their  time 
to  the  study  of  one  or  two  of  the  classic  authors.  A 
learned  and  distinguished  English  nobleman  carried 
his  admiration  of  one  of  them  so  far  as  to  exclaim: 

"  Read  Homer  once,  and  you  can  read  no  more  ; 
For  all  books  else  appear  so  mean,  so  poor, 
Verse  will  seem  prose  ;  but  still  persist  to  read, 
And  Homer  will  be  all  the  books  you  need."* 

The  classics  have  been  tried  for  centuries ;  their  value 
and  utility  have  often  been  denied,  but  they  have  as 
often  been  successfully  defended ;  so  that  now,  in  the 
literary  world,  there  is  all  but  a  unanimous  decision  in 
their  favor. 

The  friends  of  education  in  Liberia  have  long  desired 
to  see  the  same  means  of  intellectual  culture  which 
other  countries  have  enjoyed,  possessed  by  Liberians ; 

*  Essay  on  the  Athenian  Orators. 
*  Preface  to  Pope's  Translation  of  the  Iliad. 


118  Liberia's  offering. 

and  as  a  result  of  their  efforts  to  secure  for  us  these 
advantages,  we  have  this  College.  Mind  here,  as  we 
have  said,  is  as  mind  elsewhere.  We  must  rise,  and 
we  can  rise  by  the  same  means  by  which  other  people 
have  risen. 

By  the  direction  of  Divine  Providence,  a  momentous 
experiment  has  been  committed  to  our  hands  on  these 
benighted  shores,  an  experiment  in  which  are  involved, 
to  a  great  extent,  the  interests  of  Africa  and  the  African 
race.  Our  responsibility  in  this  land  is  a  serious  one. 
Sometimes  we  are  appalled  when  we  observe  the  fatal 
facility  with  which  every  fonn  of  social,  moral,  and 
political  error  from  abroad  takes  root  among  us ;  when 
we  see  the  readiness  and  eaoferness  with  which  some 
lay  hold  of  the  follies  and  nonsense  which  advanced 
communities  are  endeavoiing  to  throw  off.  But  let  oui* 
hearts  be  cheered  in  view  of  the  increase  among  us  of 
those  means  which  mil  counteract  this  facile  disposi- 
tion. We  trust  that  by  the  encom'agement  and  gener- 
ous cultivation  of  literature,  the  public  mind  shall  be 
dii'ected  to  high  j)rincij)les  and  objects  worthy  of  attain- 
ment. 

Before  we  can  realize  all  that  greatness  which  we 
sometimes  hear  predicted  in  our  public  orations  and 
speeches,  we  must  avail  ourselves  of  all  those  means  by 
which  a  nation's  heart  is  chastened,  purified,  and  refined- 
We  can  not  exj)ect  any  sj^ecial  providential  interference 
in  our  behalf  to  cause  us  to  glide  unconsciously  into 
distinction  and  respectability.  If  we  desire  among  us 
great  poets,  statesmen,  and  philosophers,  if  we  would 
have  2^1'ofound  theologians  and  able  lawyers,  we  must 
resort  to  such  books  as  the  great  men  whose  language 
we  speak  studied ;  to  such  books  as  Milton  and  Cow- 
per,  Bacon  and  Newton,  Butler  and  Paley,  studied ;  to 


LIBEEIAS    OFFERING.  119 

tlie  Ijooks  wliicli  tlie  great  men  of  England  now  study ; 
to  tlie  literary  companions  of  Broiigliam,  Gladstone, 
and  D'Israeli ;  to  Cassar,  Horace,  and  Tacitus ;  to  De- 
mosthenes  and  Cicero ;  to  tlie  JEneid,  the  Odyssey,  and 
tlie  Iliad.  We  may  not  expect  to  despise  tliese  and 
reap  tlie  fruits  wliicli  are  to  be  gathered  only  from 
them.  "Till  we  have  discovered  some  intellectual 
daguerreotype  which  takes  off  the  course  of  thought, 
and  the  form,  lineaments,  and  featui'es  of  truth,  as  com- 
^^letely  and  minutely  as  the  optical  instrument  produces 
the  sensible  object,  we  must  come  to  the  teachers  of 
wisdom  to  learn  v/isdom ;  we  must  repair  to  the  fount- 
ain and  drink  there.""" 

If  we  assiduously  use  the  means  of  culture,  we  need 
not  fear  the  results.  We  shall  soon  rise  to  a  resj^ect- 
able  if  not  a  commanding  position  in  the  world  of  let- 
ters. Though  much  has  been  already  done,  there  is 
yet  a  great  deal  to  be  achieved  in  the  field  of  science 
and  literature ;  and  may  we  make  no  achievements  % 
Let  us  hope  that  though  civilization  is  well  begun,  even 
our  feeble  hands  may  shape  its  course ;  and  that  here 
on  these  benighted  shores  there  may  be  elaborated 
noble  principles  out  of  which  shall  sj^ring  a  practice 
that  shall  be  exemplary  to  the  whole  civilized  world. 

Let  us  then  encourage  and  sustain  this  Institutiou, 
that  its  influence  may  go  forth  into  all  the  land.  We 
can  not  expect  that  eveiy  child  will  attend  college,  but 
we  may  reasonably  hope  that  such  an  influence  will  be 
sent  forth  from  this  Institution,  and  others  that  may 
hereafter  be  established,  that  those  children  who  are 
not  themselves  able  to  attend  college,  may  enjoy  the 
benefit  of  the  influence  and  tuition  of  those  who  have 
attended.     Thus  a  higher  tone  of  intellect  will  spread 

*  Office  and  Work  of  Universities. — J.  II.  Newman. 


120  Liberia's  offering. 

itself  tlirongliout  all  classes  of  society ;  and  high  and 
low,  rich  and  poor,  all  nniting  in  the  one  great  cause 
of  Africa's  redemption,  Ave  shall  advance  to  national 
nsefiilness  and  respectability. 

I  feel  the  responsihility  of  the  position  I  am  assum- 
ing in  connection  with  this  Institution.  I  feel  it  for 
various  reasons,  many  of  which  can  be  aj^preciated  by 
)^ou  without  any  specific  reference.  I  enter  upon  these 
duties  with  great  diffidence,  feeling  that,  while  it  is  an 
honorable  distinction,  it  will  continue  so  only  so  long 
as  he  who  fills  it  "  acts  well  his  part."  I  enter  uj^on 
them,  however,  with  confidence  that,  with  the  blessing 
of  God,  all  that  we  or  our  friends  abroad  desire,  can  be 
accomplished.  The  liberality  which  conceived  the  idea 
of  founding  this  Institution,  and  which,  under  various 
discouragements,  persisted  in  carrying  out  that  idea, 
w411,  we  may  hope,  be  continued  towards  us.  In  view 
of  that  liberal  support  "which  we  may  reasonably  hope 
the  Institution  will  receive  from  its  friends  in  the  United 
States ;  and  in  view  of  the  feelings  so  manifest  among 
Liberians  to  do  all  they  can  in  behalf  of  the  Institution, 
we  may  feel  that  the  College  opens  this  day  under 
favorable  auguries. 

As  a  race  we  have  been  quite  unfortunate.  We  have 
no  pleasing  antecedents — nothing  in  the  past  to  inspire 
us.  All  behind  us  is  dark,  and  gloomy,  and  repulsive. 
All  our  ao;reeable  associations  are  connected  with  the 
future.  When  other  people  S2:)eak  of  glorious  reminis- 
cences and  recollections,  Ave  must  speak  of  glorious 
hopes  and  expectations.  Let  us  then  strive  to  achieve 
a  gloiious  future. 

"  Let  the  dead  Past  bury  its  dead." 

Let  US  devote  ourselves  to  all  those  pursuits,  success 


Liberia's  offering.  121 

in  wliicli  will  prove  our  l^rotlierliood  witli  the  enliglit- 
ened  world.  It  is,  after  all,  tlie  mind  and  heart  which 
prove  the  unity  of  the  human  races.  The  inward  re- 
semblance is  far  more  forcible  than  outward  disparities. 
We  should  not  content  ourselves  with  simply  declaim- 
ing about  our  equality  with  the  advanced  races.  Let 
our  reply  to  the  slanders  of  our  enemies  be  a  practical 
one.  It  is  evident  that  it  is  only  those  who  do  not 
know  us,  except  under  the  most  unfavorable  circum- 
stances, who  speak  disparagingly  of  us.  Judging  from 
the  specialities  of  their  ow^n  limited  experience,  they 
say  that  we  are  not  susceptible  of  the  same  progress ; 
that  we  can  not  achieve  in  science,  literature,  or  art, 
wdiat  they  can.  It  would  not  be  wisdom  in  us  to  assail 
and  abuse  them  for  this,  or  to  indulge  in  empty  decla- 
mations about  om'  ability.  Let  us,  under  any  and  all 
circumstances,  prove  to  them  that  we  can  achieve  just 
what  they  can,  under  similar  circumstances  —  prove  it 
practically.  In  works  on  logic,  the  sophistical  argu- 
ment is  often  introduced  to  prove  that  motion  is  impos- 
sible ;  and  it  is  usual,  before  handling  it  according  to 
logical  rules,  to  suggest  a  pi;actical  refutation  of  it — 
solvitur  anibulando.  Such  is  the  rejily  which  we  should 
strive  to  make  to  those  whose  interest  it  has  been,  and 
now  is,  to  throw  discredit  upon  us. 

It  is  very  tnie  that  there  must  be  the  struggle  and 
j)erseverance  of  many  years  before  the  associations  of 
our  oppressed  condition  in  the  Western  hemisjDhere, 
with  all  their  train  of  obloquies  and  prejudices,  shall 
be  obliterated.  But  oiu^  case  is  not  unprecedented. 
All  peoples  who  have  risen  from  obscurity  have  had 
the  same  opposition  of  contempt  to  contend  against. 
A  few  centuries  ago  the  name  of  Briton  was  disdained 
by  the  Romans ;  and  later  still,  the  name  of  English- 
man, which  is  now  being  carried  down  on  such  a  tide 


122  Liberia's  offering. 

of  glory  to  distant  ages,  was  tlie  object  of  tlie  impetu- 
ous contempt  of  tlie  proud  Norman.*  Let  us  tliink  of 
this  Avlien  our  adversaries  l)ring  their  names,  and  their 
influence,  and  their  armmients  to  bear  asrainst  us.  And 
when  they  pour  their  indignities,  and  fasten  their  dis- 
graceful epithets  upon  us,  let  us  take  comfort  in  the 
thought  that  we  are  now  beginning  to  enjoy  the  means 
which  their  ancestors  were  obliged  to  possess  l^efore 
they  could  rise  from  their  obscure,  ignoble,  and  ignorant 
condition. 

Many  of  oui'  adversaries  are  not  ashamed  to  aver 
that  no  change  of  our  circumstances  Avill  avail  to  release 
their  understanding  from  the  influence  of  its  old  associ- 
ations. But  such  assertions  are  the  result  of  a  narrow 
view  of  things.  We  believe  that,  notwithstanding  all 
their  perverse  re2:)resentations  of  us  —  all  their  spiteful 
malignity  —  all  their  pretended  immovable  hardness  — 
all  the  inveteracy  of  their  prejudice  —  they  mil  not  be 
able  to  withstand  demonstrations  of  superior  al)ility, 
foi'nished  by  a  successful  pui'suit  of  science,  literatm*e, 
and  art. 

But  we  must  acknowledge  that  there  are  adverse 
influences,  arising  from  our  peculiar  circumstances,  iso- 
lation fr'om  the  civilized  world,  difficulty  of  23rocuring 
books  and  other  means  of  culture.  We  must,  there- 
fore, nerve  ourselves  for  the  arduous  work  that  lies 
before  us.  Oiu'  stru2:2:le  must  be  the  harder  and  more 
strenuous,  in  proportion  to  the  unyielding  influence  of 
the  force  by  which  we  are  opposed.  The  struggle  may 
be  long,  but  let  us  persevere.  The  road  to  greatness, 
whether  individual  or  national,  is  no  "  primrose  path  of 
dalliance." 

The  first  Collesre  in  West- Africa  is  founded.     Lord 

o 
*  See  Macaulay's  IFistory  of  England^  vol.  i.  chap.  i. 


Liberia's  offering.  123 

Macaulay's  prediction,  uttered  forty  years  ago,  of  the 
illustrious  University  at  Tiinbuctoo,*  tliougli  uttered 
jocosely,  is  receiving  realization.  Trutli  is  proving  it- 
self strano:er  tlian  fiction.  We  liail  this  Institution  as 
the  precursor  of  incalculable  blessings  to  this  benighted 
land  —  as  the  harbinger  of  a  bright  and  happy  future 
for  science,  literature,  and  art,  and  for  all  the  noblest 
interests  of  the  African  race. 

*  In  a  very  humorous  and  entertaining  article,  styled  "A  prophetic  account  of 
an  Epic  Poem,  to  be  published  in  2824,"  Lord  Macaulay  predicts  that  in  that  year 
there  will  exist  at  Timbuctoo  —  established  how  long  previously  he  does  not  say  — 
an  illustrious  University,  to  which  all  the  ingenuous  youths  of  every  country  will 
be  attracted  by  the  high  scientific  character  and  eminent  literary  attainments  of 
its  Professors. — Miscellaneotis  Writings,  vol.  i.  p.  142. 


Jl   EULOaY 


PRONOUNCED  ON 


REV.    JOHN    DAY, 

SUPERINTENDKNT    OF    THE    MISSIONS    OF    THE    SOUTHERN    BAPTIST    CONTENTION    IN 
WEST-AFRICA,    AND    CHIEF-JUSTICE    OF   THE    REPUBLIC    OF    LIBERIA. 

'beioke  the  citizens  of  moneovia. 
IN  THE  PROVIDENCE   BAPTIST  CHURCH, 


ON    THE    EVENING    OP    MARCH    2cl,    1859. 
Nudaque  Veritas  quando  ullum  inveniet  parem  ? — Hor. 


%  Culajj  f  roiionucA  on  "^tk  |o|ii  iuji; 


TiiEEE  are  times  in  the  Mstory  of  nations  as  of  indi. 
\iduals,  when  they  are  called  upon  by  the  voice  of  Pro- 
vidence to  look  back  upon  their  past,  to  examine  their 
present,  and  to  endeavor  to  rectify  whatever  is  ^vi'ong, 
to  adjust  whatever  is  disordered,  and  to  harmonize 
whatever  is  discordant  in  their  social  and  political  or- 
ganization, to  see  whether  they  have  not  departed  too 
far  from  the  old  landmarks,  or  whether,  destitute  of  an 
experience  sufficient  for  a  mse  eclecticism,  they  have 
not  adopted  principles  which  militate  against  their  pro- 
gress and  success.  And,  perhaps,  no  occasion  more 
naturally  suggests  this  retrospection  and  introspection 
than  when  called  upon,  as  we  are  called  upon  this  even- 
ing, to  recite  the  history  and  reproduce  the  examples  of 
those  who  have  occuj)ied  positions  of  trust  and  respon- 
sibility, who  have  made  themselves  useful  to  the  com- 
munity ;  by  whose  wisdom,  patriotism,  and  energy  the 
nation  has  been  advanced  in  respectability  and  prosper- 
ity, but  who,  by  the  rude  entrance  of  death,  have  been 
torn  from  our  embraces. 

And,  perhaps,  there  never  was  a  time  in  the  history 
of  Liberia  when  we  needed  more  carefully  to  ponder 
our  condition ;  when  the  necessity  seemed  greater  to 
hold  up  to  our  view  whatever  was  vii'tuous  and  exem- 
plary in  the  character  of  our  fathers  ;  that  by  summon- 
ing to  oui*  gaze,  from  those  pure  and  lofty  regions,  theii' 


128  Liberia's  offering. 

noble  spirits,  tliere  may  possiljly  be  disposted  from  tlie 
midst  of  us  that  selfislmess  and  unpatriotic  feeling,  and 
that  spirit  of  disunion  wliieh  we  fear  are  taking  tlie 
place  of  tlie  public  s]3irit,  the  enlarged  benevolence,  the 
self-sacrificing  zeal,  and  the  sj^irit  of  unity,  under  the 
influence  of  which  this  nation  was  founded,  and  by  the 
aid  of  which  it  has  been  broui^ht  thus  far. 

The  history  of  the  late  Kev.  John  Day,  which  we 
now  j^urpose  briefly  to  review,  is  not,  it  is  true,  marked 
by  any  of  those  stirring  incidents,  those  marvelous  and 
exciting  adventures,  those  heroic  actions  which  are 
pleasing  to  the  minds  of  some.  He  achieved  no  great 
and  remarkable  exj^loits,  which  by  the  common  and 
voluntary  consent  of  mankind,  place  his  name  at  once 
high  among  the  great  and  honored  of  the  earth.  But 
there  are,  nevertheless,  jDoints  in  his  history,  monotonous 
and  undi versified  as  a  history  enacted  for  the  most  part 
in  Liberia  must  of  necessity  be,  fi-om  the  consideration 
of  which  important  lessons  may  be  gathered.  We  shall 
attempt,  therefore,  on  this  occasion,  to  collect  some  of 
the  materials,  which  render  his  memory  dear  to  every 
Liberian,  to  every  Christian,  and  which  should  disj^ose 
us  to  cherish  that  memory  as  a  precious  inheritance,  and 
to  transmit  it  as  a  valuable  legacy  to  future  genera- 
tions. 

John  Day  was  born  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State 
of  North-Carolina,  in  the  year  1797.  His  native  county, 
bordering  upon  the  State  of  Virginia,  was  influenced 
not  a  little  by  the  manners  and  customs  of  Virginian 
life.  The  circumstances  of  his  biith  were  favorable. 
Born  of  a  fiimily  of  a  high  degree  of  respectability  and 
held  in  great  esteem  by  their  white  neighbors,  his 
privileges  were  superior  to  those  of  many  of  his  race  in 
that  country.     And  in  the  region  where  he  was  born 


Liberia's  offering.  129 

and  bronglit  up,  as  indeed  over  the  greater  portion  of 
Nortli-Carolina  and  Virginia  at  that  time,  the  distinc- 
tion which  now  prevails  between  respectable  persons  of 
color  and  white  persons  was  not  known.  Nathaniel 
Turner  had  not  yet  achieved  his  magnificent  failure,  and 
abolitionism  had  not  yet  assumed  its  rabid  and  sectional 
character.  In  his  youthful  education  Mr.  Day  was  for- 
tunate. He  attended  the  best  schools  in  the  county, 
and  sat  side  by  side  with  the  sons  of  the  most  aristo- 
cratic 23lanters.  He  was  born  at  a  time  when  the  spirit 
that  eno-endered  the  American  Revolution  was  still  rife 
among  the  people  ;  when  the  exciting  oratory  of  Patrick 
Henry  still  rang  in  their  ears  ;  when  the  mighty  rever- 
berations of  his  ''  Give  me  liberty,  or  give  me  death !" 
had  not  yet  died  from  the  mountain-ranges  of  Old  Vir- 
ginia. Sentiments  averse  to  opj^ression  of  every  kind 
still  j^ervaded  the  breasts  of  the  white  inhabitants,  and 
were  diffused  throughout  theii*  conversation.  Mr.  Day, 
allowed  fi^eely  to  mingle  with  the  immediate  descend- 
ants of  the  Jeffersons,  the  Randolphs,  the  Henrys, 
caught  the  flame  of  liberty  and  independence.  And,  as 
he  looked  around,  and  saw  the  majority  of  his  brethren  in 
a  thralldom,  which,  by  that  keen  foresight  with  which 
he  was  gifted,  he  saw  would  sooner  or  later  affect  un. 
favorably  the  condition  of  all  persons  of  color,  he  sighed 
for  a  land  where  he  mic-ht  not  witness  the  de2:radation 
of  his  brethren.  He  thought  of  Hayti,  but  he  thought 
also  of  its  foreign  language,  its  priestcraft,  and  its  fre- 
quent revolutions.  He  formed  various  plans  for  his 
future  life,  looking  forward  to  a  time  when,  amid  some 
fortunate  scene,  and  beneath  some  auspicious  sky,  he 
would  realize  his  ardent  desiiTS  for  the  enjoyment  of 
liberty  untrammeled  by  the  adventitious  circumstance 
of  color. 

9 


130  Liberia's  offering. 

Having  been  put  to  tlie  trade  of  cabinet-making,  lie 
made  sucli  proficiency  in  tliat  l)raucL  of  industry  tliat 
lie  was  soon  enabled  to  establish  himself  in  business. 
By  the  superior  finish  and  strength  of  his  work,  he  at. 
tracted  considerable  custom.  The  most  distinguished 
persons  for  miles  around  furnished  him  with  work. 
He  soon  made  himself  a  competency.  But  just  as  he 
was  forming  plans  large  and  magnificent  for  his  worldly 
aggrandizement  and  gratification,  just  as  he  was  begin- 
ning to  say  with  the  rich  man  of  old,  "  My  grounds 
have  brought  forth  plentifully,  what  shall  I  do  ?"  it 
pleased  the  Great  Head  of  the  Chui'ch,  by  that  mysteri- 
ous influence  whose  operation  is  like  the  wind,  blo^^dng 
where  it  listeth,  to  transform  his  moral  nature  and  make 
him  a  child  of  God.  He  found  himself,  to  use  his  own 
words  when  relating  the  wonderful  transition,  in  a  new 
world.  He  found  himself  with  new  feelings  and  new 
desires,  new  predilections  and  new  antipathies.  He 
must  now,  therefore,  form  new  plans.  He  looked 
abroad  upon  the  world,  and  his  enlarged  heart  took  in 
all  mankind.  He  felt  that  he  had  a  work  to  do.  He 
felt  that  it  was  his  duty,  as  he  esteemed  it  his  privilege, 
to  exhort  others  to  flee  from  that  impending  ^\Tath  from 
which  as  a  brand  from  the  everlasting  bm*nings  he  had 
been  plucked.  He  was  strongly  impressed  with  the 
conviction  that  he  should  devote  himself  to  the  import- 
ant business  of  preaching  the  Gospel.  Having  enjoyed 
the  advantages  of  a  good  English  education,  he  entered, 
through  the  recommendation  of  some  friend,  a  theologi- 
cal class,  whose  reading  was  du'ected  by  Rev.  Mr.  Clop- 
ton,  a  Baptist  minister  of  profound  learning,  skillful  in 
the  languages,  and  an  adej^t  in  metaphysical  science. 
Standing  foremost  in  the  ranks  of  Baptist  ministers  at 
that  time,  Mr.  Cloj^ton  was  eminently  fitted  for  the  du- 


9  Liberia's  offering.  131 

ties  of  preparing  young  men  for  tlie  ministry.  Rev.  Dr. 
J.  B.  Jeter,  of  Riclnnond,  Virginia,  tlien  quite  a  young 
man,  also  frequented  Mr.  Clopton's  study.  Mr.  Cloptou 
had  paid  close  attention  to  tlie  laws  of  the  mind,  and 
had  great  facility  in  explaining  difficulties  in  religious 
experience,  Avhich  at  that  time  frequently  troubled  ]\Ii'. 
Day.  And  from  him,  doubtless,  the  subject  of  our  re- 
marks acquu'ed  that  love  for  metaphysical  discussion 
and  research  which  those  who  were  intimate  with  him, 
or  attended  his  preaching,  could  not  fail  to  discover. 

"While  pm'suing  his  studies  under  Mr.  Clopton,  the 
colony  of  Liberia,  as  an  asylum  for  free  persons  of  color, 
began  to  attract  attention  in  that  part  of  the  country 
where  he  resided.  No  sooner  had  he  heard  of  the  place 
than  he  at  once  made  up  his  mind  to  cast  in  his  lot 
with  the  people  who,  on  these  far-off  shores,  and  in  this 
insalubrious  clime,  were  endeavoring  to  establish  a 
home  for  themselves  and  their  children.  Coincident 
with  the  desii'e  for  a  land  of  liberty,  there  was  now  a 
bm-ning  zeal  to  preach  the  Grospel  to  the  thousands  of 
degraded  Africans  who  roam  these  forests.  He  dili- 
gently applied  himself  to  the  work  of  preparation  for 
the  Gospel  ministry.  But  unfortunately  for  the  intel- 
lectual advancement  of  Mr.  Day,  a  cii'cumstance  trans- 
pired—a circumstance  to  which,  even  down  to  the  day 
of  his  death,  he  frequently  referred  mth  expressions  of 
unmingled  regret — which  obliged  him  to  relinquish  his 
studies  before  he  had  gone  through  the  j)rescribed 
coui'se,  and  enter  upon  the  active  duties  of  the  calling 
which  he  had  chosen. 

Ha^'ing  sacrificed  his  property,  he  embarked  in  De- 
cember of  the  year  1830,  with  a  most  amiable  mfe,  and 
four  interesting  children,  for  this  land,  which  was  so 
soon  to  be  the  grave  of  the  affectionate  group.     He  ar- 


132  Liberia's  offering.  # 

rived  in  Liberia,  entered  at  once  upon  liis  sacred  duties, 
pursuing  the  business  of  caljinet-making  for  liis  supj^ort, 
and  preacliing  as  often  as  opportunity  offered.  He  had 
not  been  long  in  the  land  before  he  saw  his  lovely  com-' 
panioii  stricken  down  by  the  relentless  hand  of  death — 
a  companion  to  whose  chai'ms  and  loveliness  he  was 
most  keenly  alive,  and  around  whom  the  most  ardent 
affections  of  his  soul  were  so  firmly  entwined,  that  the 
great  depths  of  his  heart  seemed  upheaved  by  the  sev- 
erance. Then,  one  after  another,  he  saw  his  beloved 
offspring  wrapped  in  the  chilling  embraces  of  the  grim 
monster,  and  conveyed  to  the  house  appointed  for  all 
li^4ng,  until  his  whole  family  melted  away  from  him, 
and  none  was  left  to  remind  him  of  the  scenes  and  asso- 
ciations of  the  i^ast.  There  he  stood  all  alone  in  a  new 
country,  amid  new  scenes  and  associations ;  there  he 
stood,  like  some  solitary  oak  in  the  dead  of  winter, 
stripped  of  its  foliage,  and  exj^osed,  diy  and  defenseless, 
to  all  the  beatino;s  of  the  northern  storms.  Findiuo; 
himself  in  this  grievous  solitude,  and  entii'ely  at  a  loss 
how  to  dispose  of  the  sad  and  weaiy  hours  that  hung 
so  oj^pressively  upon  him,  he  abandoned  himself  to 
gloomy  abstractions  and  melancholy  reveries.  This  led 
to  the  supposition  that  there  was  some  unhingement  of 
his  mental  organization.  But  notwithstanding  his  deep 
afflictions  he  never  murmured ;  was  never  disposed  to 
abandon  the  field  which  he  had  chosen  for  the  labors 
of  his  life.  He  had  numerous  inducements  to  retm'u  to 
the  land  of  his  birth.  His  relatives,  in  comfortable  and 
respectable  cii'cumstances,  urged  him  again  and  again 
to  return.  Several  wealthy  friends  anxiously  waited  to 
welcome  him.  But  he  had  j)ut  his  hand  to  the  plow, 
and  he  would  not  look  back.  His  ardent  and  cherished 
desire  was  to  labor  for  the  evanoelization  of  his  heathen 


LIBERIA'S    OFFERING.  133 

brethren  iu  this  land,  and  he  would  not,  notmthstand- 
ing  his  deep  bereavements,  and  the  imminent  danger  in 
which  his  own  life  often  stood,  swerve  from  his  noble 
purpose.  Here  we  have  an  instance  of  the  triumph -of 
grace  in  the  soul.  Here  we  see  true  Christian  benevo- 
lence, the  constraining  love  of  Christ,  the  new,  living, 
and  all-controlling  principle  implanted  in  every  regene- 
rate heart,  rising  superior  to  all  earthly  interests,  forsak- 
ino;  father  and  mother,  and  hazardino;  life  itself  for  the 
cause  of  Christ.  Oh  !  in  the  heart  of  the  Christian  a 
deep  and  everilomng  fountain  has  been  opened,  flowing 
out  to  all  the  world.  "  There  is  not  the  wreck  of  hu- 
manity it  will  not  pity ;  there  is  not  an  infected  prison 
it  mil  not  enter ;  there  is  not  a  pestilential  climate  or  an 
inhospitable  region  it  will  not  visit ;  there  is  no  j)eril  of 
robbers,  nor  peril  of  the  sea,  nor  peril  of  false  brethren, 
nor  hunger,  nor  thirst  it  will  not  hazard  in  behalf  of 
human  redemption." 

After  Mr.  Day  had  resided  here  for  several  years,  a 
mission  was  established  by  the  Northern  Baptist  Board 
of  Missions,  with  which  he  became  connected,  and  in 
the  service  of  which,  for  a  number  of  years,  he  was 
abundant  in  labors.  The  principal  seat  of  the  opera- 
tions of  that  Board  was  in  the  county  of  Grand  Bassa. 
Frequently  have  we  sat  and  heard  him  recite  for  hours 
together  the  interesting  and  instructive  incidents  of 
those  laborious,  painfiil,  and  hazardous  tours  which  he 
repeatedly  made  for  hundi'eds  of  miles  into  the  interior, 
preaching  and  teaching  the  peoj^le.  And  there  are  now 
to  be  found  scattered  all  over  that  country  delightful 
fruits  of  his  labors.  Taking  the  city  of  Buchanan  as  a 
center,  and  with  a  radius  of  sixty  or  seventy  miles,  de- 
scribe a  semicii'cle,  and  there  is  no  point  to  Avhich  you 
can  go  within  that  semicircle  where  the  name  of  John 


134  Liberia's  offering. 

Day  is  not  a  liouseliold  word,  and  at  many  points  you 
will  readily  recognize  precious  e^^dences  of  Lis  toils  and 
efforts. 

Mr.  Day  subsequently  became  connected  "v^dtli  tlie 
Southern  Baptist  Convention,  wlio  have  established 
missions  throughout  Liberia,  at  Sierra  Leone,  and  in 
Central  Africa.  For  several  years,  and  up  to  the  hour 
of  his  death,  he  filled  the  responsible  position  of  super- 
intendent of  their  missions  in  Liberia  and  at  Sierra 
Leone,  and  prosecuted  to  the  utmost  of  his  ability  the 
arduous  duties  of  that  station  of  tnist. 

But  Mr.  Day  was  patriotic.  Of  this  no  citizen  of  Li- 
beria, within  the  sound  of  my  voice,  needs  any  elabor- 
ate demonstration.  Residing  within  the  limits  and 
being  a  citizen  of  a  nation  in  the  incipient  stages  of 
progress,  he  felt  that,  not^vithstanding  his  arduous  min- 
isterial labors,  he  had  a  work  to  perform  in  shajjing  the 
political  institutions  of  his  country.  No  love  of  indul- 
gence or  ease,  no  dread  of  severe  application,  kept  him 
from  striving  to  qualify  himself  for  usefulness  to  his 
country  and  fellow-citizens.  He  studied  closely  and 
patiently  the  science  of  jurisprudence  and  the  general 
principles  of  statesmanship,  so  that  he  was  fitted  for 
usefulness  in  all  those  positions  for  which  intelligent 
men  are  needed  in  rising  communities.  Nor  were  his 
talents  and  acquii'ements  slighted  by  his  fellow-citizens. 
After  having  filled  various  subordinate  offices,  elective 
and  othermse,  he  was,  in  the  year  1853,  placed  as  suc- 
cessor of  Chief-Justice  Benedict  at  the  head  of  the  Ju- 
diciary, which  position  he  occupied  with  dignity  and 
credit  until  his  demise.  It  is  said  by  competent  judges 
that  his  charges  to  juries  and  decisions,  when  Judge  of 
the  Com*t  of  Quarter  Sessions  in  the  county  of  Grand 
Bassa,  were  most  elaborate,  and  discovered  a  deep  in- 


Liberia's  offering,  135 

siglit  into  legal  principles.  In  tlie  Legislative  hall  lie 
did  not  very  often  take  tlie  floor,  but  whenever  lie  did 
Ms  counsels  were  wise  and  judicious.  His  remarks 
were  brief,  but  to  the  point.  And  when  he  occupied 
leading  positions  on  committees,  where  important  re- 
23orts  and  other  documents  had  to  be  prepared,  he 
showed  his  ^visdon^  and  skill,  did  justice  to  his  subject 
and  credit  to  himself. 

The  declaration  of  the  Independence  of  Liberia,  the 
establishment  of  the  fii\st  Republican  government  on 
the  Western  Shores  of  Africa,  did  not,  it  is  true,  solve 
any  intricate  problem  in  the  history  of  nations.  It  did 
not  shed  any  new  light  upon  mankind  with  reference  to 
the  science  of  government.  It  was  not  the  result  of  the 
elaboration  of  any  novel  principle  in  politics.  But  it 
j)oured  new  vigor  into  the  poor,  dying  existence  of  the 
African  all  over  the  world.  It  opened  a  door  of  hope 
for  a  race  long  the  doomed  victims  of  oppression.  It 
animated  colored  men  every  where  to  fi'esh  endeavors 
to  prove  themselves  men.  It  gave  the  example  ©f  a 
portion  of  this  despised  race,  far  away  in  the  midst  of 
heathenism  and  barbarism,  under  the  most  unfavorable 
cu'cumstances,  assuming  the  resjDonsibilities,  and  coming 
forward  into  the  ranks,  of  nations  ;  and  it  demonstrated 
that,  notAvithstanding  the  oj)pression  of  ages,  the  ener- 
gies of  the  race  had  not  been  entii'ely  emasculated,  but 
were  still  suflicient  to  establish  and  to  maintain  a  na- 
tionality. 

When  the  idea  of  bringing  to  pass  this  mighty 
achievement  in  the  history  of  the  race  was  first  mooted, 
many  regarded  it  as  chimerical,  some  viewed  it  as  pre- 
sumptuous, and  others  thought  it  but  little  less  than 
treason.  In  the  county  in  which  Mr.  Day  then  resided 
there  Avas  considerable  opposition  to  the  measure  ;  but. 


136  Liberia's  offeking. 

deeply  tliouglitful,  lie  saw  the  beneficial  results  wliicli 
were  likely  to  accrue  to  the  country  and  to  the  race 
from  the  assumption  of  Independence.  He  boldly  ad- 
vocated the  measure,  notwithstandino;  various  threats 
from  an  exasperated  j^opulace.  The  boisterousness  of 
the  mob  could  not  daunt  him.  He  persevered,  and 
rode  triumphantly  over  the  tumultuous  surges.  He 
was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  National  Convention 
which  assembled  in  this  city  to  draft  a  Declaration  of 
Independence  and  a  Constitution  for  the  new  RejDublic. 
He  was  therefore  among  the  signers  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence.  And  here  we  are  reminded  of  the 
melancholy  fact  that  those  distinguished  men  are  fast 
passing  away.  One  after  another  has  entered  upon  his 
voyage  to  that 

" undiscovered  country 


From  whose  bourn  no  traveler  returns." 

But  four  of  the  twelve  who  sat  in  that  memorable 
convention  survive.  This  admonishes  those  of  us  who 
are  youthful  that  soon  the  fathers  will  have  gone  for- 
ever, and  it  presses  home  to  our  hearts,  with  all  the 
solemnity  of  the  grave,  the  question :  Are  we  preparing 
ourselves,  by  mental  and  moral  culture,  to  take  their 
places  and  lead  on  this  infant  nation,  which  they  have 
established  in  weakness  and  in  much  trembling,  to  in- 
dependence and  glory? 

Just  at  this  point  we  trust  we  shall  be  excused  if  we 
digress  for  a  few  minutes.  We  have  vrith-  regret  no- 
ticed of  late  a  growing  tendency  among  some  of  the  ju- 
venile members  of  the  community  to  depreciate  the 
labors  of  our  fathers,  the  pioneers  of  Liberia.  "VVe  say 
with  regret,  because  we  conceive  such  a  spirit  to  be  in 
violation  of  the  command,  recorded  in  broad  and  solemn 


libeeia's  offeeixg,  137 

characters  on  the  pages  of  God's  Holy  Book  :  "  Honor 
thy  father  and  thy  mother  tliat  tliij  days  may  he  long 
upon  the  land  wliicli  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee^  We 
regret  it  because  it  is  doing  great  injustice  to  the  heroic 
men  who  for  years  have  struggled,  in  sickness  and  in 
health,  in  joy  and  in  sorrow,  to  maintain  themselves  on 
these  shores.  We  are  tauntingly  asked  :  "  AVhat  have 
these  men  done  ?"  And  we  are  told  that  "  all  that  has 
been  achieved  has  been  achieved  by  foreign  means." 
What  have  they  done  ?  We  would  ask  in  return,  what 
have  they  not  done  ?  They  have  voluntarily  expatri- 
ated themselves  from  the  land  of  their  birth ;  forsook 
the  endearing  scenes  and  associations  of  childhood; 
severed  themselves  from  the  comforts  and  conveniences 
of  an  advanced  state  of  society ;  denied  themselves 
the  enjoyment  of  health,  the  pleasure  of  civilized 
and  enlightened  influences,  and  gave  themselves  up  to 
a  living  death  on  these  barbarous  shores.  And  for 
what  pui'pose  ?  That  they  might  found  a  home  not  for 
themselves,  for  they  knew  they  would  not  live  to  enjoy 
it,  but  for  us  theu'  posterity.  Foreign  means  indeed  ! 
It  is  true  they  were  j)oor  men.  They  had  no  gold  and 
silver  to  lavish  out  upon  improvements ;  but  mark  their 
superior  self-abnegation  and  heroism,  they  gave  them- 
selves. And  what  could  foreign  learning  and  foreign 
wealth  have  done  without  their  groans,  and  sweat,  and 
blood  ?  Yes,  they  suffered  keenly,  and  bore  up  heroic- 
ally under  their  sufferings  for  us.  Their  work  consisted 
in  patient  endurance  —  a  task  far  more  difficult  than 
active  exertion.  Let  us  not,  then,  de2:)reciate  their  sac- 
rifices and  toils,  but  rather  let  us  endeavor  to  qualify 
ourselves  to  carry  on,  by  labor  and  well-directed  effort, 
what  they  have  begun  in  intense  suffering  and  endur- 
ance.    And  if  we  are  wise  to  detect  any  faults  or  defi- 


138  .  Liberia's  offering. 

ciencies  in  any  of  tlieir  doings,  let  us  not  boastingly  ex- 
patiate upon  them,  but  rather  let  us,  taking  the  mantle 
of  charity,  hasten  to  spread  it  over  them,  lest,  while  we 
luxuriate  and  delis-lit  ourselves  with  ideas  of  our  own 
superiority  to  them,  there  come  over  the  land  a  physical 
barrenness,  a  mental  and  moral  blight,  because  we  have 
not  accorded  the  reverence  due  to  our  fathers. 

We  are  not  by  any  means,  however,  asserting  that  it 
is  incumbent  upon  us  to  entertain  such  unquestioning 
deference  to  the  opinions  and  actions  of  our  fathers  as 
to  reenact  their  errors,  and  proceed,  right  or  wrong,  in 
the  beaten  track ;  but  we  are  for  interring  with  tlieir 
bones  the  ill  they  may  have  done,  encouraging  the  vi- 
tality of  their  virtuous  deeds,  and  immortalizing  tlieir 
exemplary  conduct.  Let  us  emulate  their  noble  actions. 
Let  us  not  be  content  to  live  and  die  without  doino- 
something  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  our  down- 
trodden race.  Oh !  let  us  not  be  drones  in  the  great 
hive  of  humanity. 

"  In  the  world's  broad  field  of  battle, 
In  the  bivouac  of  life, 
Be  not  like  dumb,  driven  cattle. 
Be  ye  heroes  in  the  strife." 

But  we  must  return  from  our  digression.  Not  only 
was  Mr.  Day  laborious  and  diligent  in  qualifying  him- 
self for  the  public  duties  which  he  was  so  frequently 
called  upon  to  perform,  but  he  assiduously  endeavored 
to  iit  himself  for  usefulness  in  the  more  private  scenes 
of  life.  In  that  part  of  Liberia  where  he  spent  the 
greater  portion  of  his  time,  there  was  seldom  any  phy- 
sician, yet  there  were  frequently  cases  among  the  people 
which  needed  medical  attention.  Mr.  Day,  therefore, 
gave  himself,  in  addition  to  his  numerous  other  studies, 
to  the  reading  of  medical  works,  and  to  the  study  of 


libeeia's  offering.  139 

tlie  natural  sciences,  that  lie  miglit  fit  liimself  for  ordi- 
nary practice.  He  soon  acquired  a  sufficient  knowledge 
of  pathological  principles  and  of  therapeutics  to  enable 
him  to  be  a  very  useful  practitioner  among  the  poor  of 
his  neighborhood.  He  willingiy  went  from  house  to 
house,  administering  relief  to  the  sick,  healing  the  dis- 
eases of  the  body,  and  endeavoring  to  bind  up  the 
wounds  of  the  spirit.  Not  a  little  of  his  earnings  was 
expended  in  unwearied  services  among  the  poor  and  af- 
flicted. By  his  well-bred  gentility,  the  cordiality  of  his 
manners,  and  his  sympathy  with  their  griefs,  he  won 
the  esteem  and  love  of  all  around  him.  The  sick  and 
the  afflicted,  the  poor  and  needy,  were  satisfied  that  he 
was  their  friend  ;  and  in  the  very  humblest  of  their 
tenements  he  was  met  with  exhibitions  of  their  warm- 
est welcome.  In  these  private  and  retired  acts,  we 
have  the  most  complete  demonstration  of  the  greatness 
of  his  spirit. 

"  The  drying  of  a  single  tear  has  more 
Of  honest  fame  than  shedding  seas  of  gore." 

We  make  a  great  mistake  when  we  confine  deeds  of 
eminence  to  public  scenes  and  magnificent  occasions. 
It  is  often  in  the  loneliness  of  a  limited  social  or  domes- 
tic circle,  and  in  the  discharge  of  the  most  common- 
place duty,  that  the  greatest  self-denial  has  to  be  exer- 
cised. Men  in  obscure  stations,  of  whom  the  world 
never  hears,  may  have  the  hardest  tasks  to  perform,  and 
the  greatest  sacrifices  to  make,  in  the  cause  of  God  and 
religion.  We  should  not  lavish  all  our  applause  and 
admiration  on  such  as  stand  foremost  in  the  ranks  of 
philanthropists,  and  whose  names  stand  prominently 
forth  as  having  done  and  suffered  much  to  alleviate  hu- 
man suffering.  We  should  not  confine  the  honors  of  a 
true  philantlwopy  to  those  who,  in  the  sight  and  amid 


140  Liberia's  offering. 

tlie  applauses  of  tlioiisands,  pour  out  of  their  abundance 
in  the  cause  of  charity.  We  conceive  that  he  who,  se- 
questered from  the  gaze  of  the  multitude,  "  little  and  un- 
known," distributes  daily  and  habitually  of  his  earnings 
to  satisfy  the  needs  of  an  indigent  neighborhood,  is  to 
the  full  as  deserving  as  he  whose  thousands,  abstracted 
from  a  large  and  constantly  increasing  heap,  are  be- 
stowed in  the  \dcinity  of  a  newspaper-office. 

Mr.  Day,  then,  by  his  activity  in  the  performance  of 
those  deeds  of  charity,  which  were  far  removed  from 
the  observation  of  men  generally,  which  attracted  no 
attention,  showed  that  he  was  possessor  of  a  large  and 
expansive  soul ;  and  though  he  did  not  attain  to  the 
celebrity  of  a  Howard,  he  was  none  the  less  deserving 
of  it,  on  the  principle  inculcated  by  our  Saviour  him- 
self :  "  He  that  is  faithful  in  that  w^hich  is  least  is  faith- 
ful also  in  much." 

Mr.  Day  was  also  a  soldier  of  no  ordinary  courage. 
His  country  never  called  for  his  services  in  that  capaci- 
ty but  he  was  ready  to  respond. ;  and  w^hen  he  believed 
that  duty  required  it,  he  would  brave  the  greatest  dan- 
o:ers.  On  several  occasions  has  he  risked  his  life  amono- 
uncounted  numbers  of  the  enemy,  accompanied  only  by 
a  few  men,  others  refusing  to  follow,  regarding  his  un- 
dertakings from  their  very  boldness  as  the  result  of 
some  mental  disorder.  ISFothiuo;  intimidated  him  from 
any  position  to  which  he  believed  himself  in\ated  by 
the  interests  of  his  country. 

But  it  is  especially  as  a  Christian  and  a  Christian 
minister  that  we  delight  to  contemplate  Mr.  Day.  Be- 
lieving himself  called  to  the  responsible  work  of  preach- 
ing the  Gospel,  he  devoted  himself  to  it  for  more  than 
thirty  years  with  unremitting  diligence.  Although  he 
had  not  received  any  of  the  honorary  distinctions  of 


Liberia's  offeeing.  141 

literary  institutions,  althougli  lie  was  no  graduate  of 
any  Theological  Seminary,  lie  liad  made  great  profi- 
ciency in  the  sublime  science  of  Theology.  Pie  had 
carefully  studied  all  the  standard  theological  works  of 
his  own  church  and  of  several  other  denominations,  so 
that  on  all  theological  subjects  he  was  generally  and 
perfectly  at  home. 

Of  his  Christian  character,  what  can  we  say  that  is 
not  already  known  to  you  ?  You  could  not  have  met 
him  at  all  if  you  do  not  agree  that  he  had  very  high 
and  very  noble  qualities.  No  one  could  have  inter- 
course with  him  mthout  perceiving  prominent  and  in- 
teresting features  in  his  character — features  formed  by 
the  combination  of  virtue,  courage,  assiduity,  diligence, 
perseverance,  with  natural  talents  and  genius  of  no  in- 
ferior order.  There  was  such  a  frankness  and  sincerity 
in  his  words  and  actions,  that  no  one  could  for  a  mo- 
ment suppose  that  he  was  not  what  he  seemed  to  be. 
What  he  said  he  meant.  And  whenever  he  made  a 
promise  he  could  be  depended  upon  for  its  fulfillment, 
even  though  such  fulfillment  involved  his  own  injury. 

There  was  in  his  whole  life  a  beautiful  consistency 
and  harmony.  Not  that  we  would  claim  for  him  an 
exemj^tion  from  faults  and  errors.  Such  is  poor  human 
nature,  that  not  unfrequently  we  find  some  of  the  high- 
est qualities  of  mind  and  heart  accompanied  with  very 
great  defects.  There  were  occasionally  prominent  in 
Mr.  Day  certain  oddities  of  character ;  but  these,  if 
faults  at  all,  were,  to  say  the  most  of  them,  venial  faults, 
when  we  consider  the  remarkable  excellencies  by  which 
they  were  counterbalanced.  On  the  disk  of  that  bright 
luminary  shining  above  us,  the  glorious  king  of  day, 
may  be  discovered  dark  spots.  But  who  would  be  ac. 
counted  wise  that  should  deny  himself  the  privilege 


142  Liberia's  offering. 

and  pleasure  of  enjoying  tlie  benign  rays  of  that  "  great- 
er liglit,"  and  employ  liis  precious  time  in  pointing  out 
and  counting  the  spots  on  the  sun  ?  Mr.  Day  had  his 
defects,  but  the  number,  and  strength,  and  vitality  of 
his  constitutional  gifts  and  Christian  graces,  completely 
overshadowed  those  defects;  they  were  scarcely  seen, 
or,  if  seen,  were  but  little  regarded  except  by  those 
whose  moral  vision  was  jaundiced  by  prejudice. 

His  piety  was  genuine.  He  had  clear  and  distinct 
apprehensions  of  the  great  truths  of  salvation.  He  had 
a  thorough  persuasion  that  the  promises  of  God  record- 
ed in  the  Bible  are  yea  and  Amen,  in  Christ  Jesus. 
And  there  were  no  prophecies  or  promises  upon  which 
he  more  delighted  to  dwell  than  upon  those  which  re- 
ferred to  Africa.  He  had  strong  faith  in  the  assurance 
that  "  Ethiopia  shall  soon  stretch  out  her  hands  unto 
God,"  and  to  hasten  the  fulfillment  of  this  glorious 
promise  he  prayed  and  labored.  It  was  a  cherished 
desire  of  his  to  have  extensive  and  permanent  missions 
established  by  the  Baptist  Board  among  the  natives 
throusjhout  Liberia.  And  we  could  wish  that  this  no- 
ble  desire  may  be  speedily  realized,  not  only  with  re- 
spect to  his  o^^ai  denomination,  but  all  other  denomi- 
nations in  Liberia.  We  trust  that  the  death  of  this 
man  of  God  will  prove  a  stimulus  to  the  "  sacramental 
host  of  God's  elect "  to  go  up  and  possess  the  land. 
We  trust  that  there  may  be  generated  in  us  a  more  en- 
larged benevolence,  a  more  ardent  zeal,  and  a  more  self- 
denying  spirit,  that,  bravely  closing  up  the  vacancy 
which  has  just  been  occasioned  in  the  ranks  by  the  fall 
of  a  veteran,  we  may  rally  up  with  redoubled  energy 
and  power,  determined  to  conquer  or  to  die. 

As  a  pastor  of  the  Providence  Baptist  Church,  so  far 
as  the  weakness  and  infii*mities  of  declining  years  per- 


Liberia's  offering.  143 

mittecl,  lie  was  faithful.     For  liis  pulpit  ministrations 
lie  always  made  laborious  preparation . 

Crude  and  suj^erficial  views  of  trutli  never  satisfied 
liim.  He  followed  closely  tlie  advice  of  tlie  Apostle  in 
giving  attendance  to  reading,  to  exhortation,  to  doctrine. 
His  discoui'ses  w^ere  the  product  of  much  thought  and 
severe  mental  application.  And  he  not  unfrequently, 
with  characteristic  humility,  referred  to  the  intense 
labor  which  it  cost  him  to  prepare  a  discom-se  as  a 
proof  that  he  was  not  a  man  of  genius.  He  earnestly 
lifted  up  his  voice  in  public  and  in  private  against  in- 
competence and  want  of  intellectual  industry  in  the 
pulpit.  It  was  his  constant  endeavor  to  discourage  and 
suppress  the  "  declamatory  raving  of  ignorance  and 
fanaticism."  And  he  never  let  pass  unimproved  any 
opportunity  to  rebuke  that  disposition  to  noise  and 
disorder,  dm^ing  times  of  religious  interest,  which  was 
formerly  so  common  in  Liberia.  He  gave  it  as  his  firm 
and  decided  intention  not  to  tolerate  such  undimified 
proceedings  in  his  church.  The  fi'iends  of  reform  in 
this  respect  must  mourn  the  loss  of  an  efficient  and 
influential  co-laborer.  May  his  successor  to  this  charge 
be  blessed  with  a  double  portion  of  his  spiiit ! 

Mr.  Day  was  unceasing  and  untiling  in  his  efforts  to 
promote  the  educational  interests  of  Liberia  generally, 
and  of  the  Baptist  church  particularly.  It  had  been, 
for  a  series  of  years,  his  earnest  desire  to  see  a  literary 
institution  established  in  Liberia  in  connection  with 
the  Baptist  denomination ;  and  he  did  not  relax  his 
efforts  for  that  purpose  until  he  succeeded  in  establish- 
ing the  Day's  Hojie  Academy.  Day's  Hope  !  signifi- 
cant appellation  !  It  indicates  the  deep  sentiments  of 
his  heart  mth  reference  to  education.  He  felt  that 
intellectual  and  moral  culture  was  the  hope  of  Liberia, 


144  Liberia's  offering. 

of  tlie  Cliurcli,  and  of  tlie  state ;  in  tliat  were  centered 
all  Ins  hopes  for  the  future.  May  those  hopes  never  be 
disaj)poiuted  !  May  their  object  be  fully  and  abun- 
dantly realized  now  and  hereafter  to  the  latest  poster- 
ity. We  trust  that  that  building  and  that  institution 
may  long  remain  to  proclaim  to  coming  generations  the 
high  estimation  Ayhicli  their  fathers  placed  upon  educa- 
tion. We  trust  that  it  will  remain  to  rebuke  that  false 
and  presumptuous  sj^irit  which,  while  aspiring  to  use- 
fulness and  eminence  in  the  Church  and  in  the  state, 
despises  intellectual  application !  We  trust  it  will 
remain,  with  its  high  and  sacred  design,  to  inspire  pli- 
ant infancy  with  the  desire  and  disposition  to  devote 
themselves  to  those  ennobling  j)ursuits  which  it  was 
erected  to  encourage.  We  trust  it  will  remain,  and 
that  in  years  to  come,  old  age,  weaiy  and  worn  by 
toil,  may  be  able  to  look  back  and  l^e  comforted  by 
the  reminiscences  it  shall  suggest,  and  be  encouraged 
by  the  future  it  shall  indicate  !  Long  may  Day's  Hope 
stand  !  O  ye  Agents  of  the  Southern  Baptist  Conven- 
tion in  Liberia  and  in  America  !  let  Day's  Hope  stand. 
Let  it  stand  by  your  fostering  care  to  bless  this  infant 
Republic.  Let  it  stand  to  bless  the  Church  and  send 
forth  scores,  nay,  hundreds  of  warriors  to  fight  the  })at- 
tles  of  the  Lord ;  to  storm  manfully  and  successfully 
the  numerous  fortresses  of  Satan  scattered  over  this 
land,  and  to  j^lant  the  standard  of  the  cross  uj^on  their 
demolished  ruins  ! 

So  keenly  did  Mr.  Day  appreciate  the  deficiency  of 
some  of  the  laborers  in  Christ's  ^dneyard  in  this  land, 
and  so  fearful  was  he  lest,  in  a  cause  so  near  and  dear 
to  his  heart,  they,  "  for  want  of  l^etter  mind,"  should 
do  more  evil  than  good,  that  very  often  his  references 
to  such  and  to  their  labors  seemed  to  those  who  did 


Liberia's  offering.  145 

not  understand  liim,  more  tlie  result  of  a  bitter  and 
caustic  spiiit  tlian  of  Christian  cliarity.  But  lie  earn- 
estly and  constantly  longed  and  prayed  for,  and  la- 
bored to  accelerate,  tlie  time  wlien  all  tlie  pulpits  in 
Liberia,  but  particularly  in  his  own  churcli,  should  be 
filled  by  "  faithfal  men  ahle  to  teach  others." 

When  we  became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Day  he  had 
already  passed  the  meridian  of  life.  He  was  what 
might  be  called,  especially  in  this  countiy,  an  old  man ; 
but  he  did  not  undervalue,  as  is  too  often  the  case  with 
the  aged,  the  imj^rovements  of  the  present  day. 

"  He  looked  in  years,  but  in  his  years  were  seen 
A  youthful  vigor,  an  autumnal  green." 

While  he  was  no  lover  of  novelty,  he  always  stood 
ready  to  adopt  and  recommend  "  whatsoever  things 
were  true,  whatsoever  things  were  lovely,  whatsoever 
things  were  of  good  report."  He  was  a  man  of  large 
experience  and  extensive  reading,  and  of  nice,  discrimi- 
nating judgment.  It  was  not  easy  to  impose  upon 
him.  The  light  and  trashy  literatm^e  of  the  day,  no 
matter  how  extolled  in  newspapers  and  periodical  re- 
views, found  their  just  deserts  when  they  came  into 
contact  Avith  him.  He  entertained  the  greatest  rever- 
ence for  the  old  theological  and  metaphysical  wiiters. 
"  One  line,"  he  would  fi^equently  say,  "  from  Edwards, 
or  Butler,  or  Leighton,  or  Fuller,  is  worth  ]3ages  of 
many  of  the  productions  which  the  steam-presses  so 
rapidly  throw  off."  He  ever  referred  in  most  grateful 
terms  to  Paley's  Natural  Theology  as  having  aiTested 
his  fearful  career,  when  at  one  time  he  was  nearing  the 
rapids  of  skepticism  and  infidelity.  When  the  illus. 
trious  Spurgeon  first  bui'st  upon  the  astonished  gaze  of 
the  Church,  extracts  from  his  seiTnons  as  reported  in 

10 


146  libekia's  offering. 

newspapers  would  offceu  be  subjected  to  his  cutting 
seventy ;  but  after  liaving  received  and  read  several 
volumes  of  tlie  sermons  of  tliat  wondeiful  young  man, 
his  views  became  considerably  modified. 

For  the  last  five  or  six  years,  and  until  "within  a  few 
weeks  before  his  death,  as  there  loomed  up  in  the  dis- 
tance before  the  faith  of  this  veteran  soldier  of  Christ, 
the  mighty  battles  that  are  to  be  fought  and  the  great 
victories  to  be  achieved  in  Africa,  he  desu'ed  to  live  on 
indefinitely.  He  could  not  fix  upon  any  time  in  the 
futm-e  in  view  of  the  great  work  to  be  accomplished, 
when  he  would  be  at  leisui'e  to  die.  Nor  was  this 
strange.  This  is  the  feeling  ex^^erienced  by  most  of 
the  ao;ed  who  have  been  laborino-  for  the  cause  of  truth 
and  righteousness,  when  the  time  draws  near  to  ex- 
change faith  for  vision,  hope  for  fi'uition.  "  The  desii*e 
for  continued  existence  is  a  native,  ardent,  universal 
passion.  It  is  as  inherent  and  inseparable  an  attribute 
of  the  human  soul  as  the  understandino;  or  the  vdll. 
Chi'istianity  adds  a  religious  element,  and  makes  the 
iiTe^^ressible  longing  a  deep  and  expanded  aspii-ation 
for  an  eternal  pmity,  an  eternal  well-doing  and  well- 
being.  This  23assion,  when  Chiistianized,  is  not  a  sim- 
ple desii'e  of  the  spiiit  for  its  ovni  endless  life  in  God, 
but  a  deep,  indwelling  interest  in  the  endless  life  in 
God  of  all  fellow-spiiits.  In  this  way  does  it  become 
the  inspii'er  of  an  important  religious  activity." 

This  earnest  desii'e  for  long  life  ]VIi\  Day  expeiT 
enced,  but  only  tliat  he  might  exert  himself  for  the 
glory  of  God  and  the  benefit  of  his  fellow-men.  Hence 
his  activities  were  unceasing  —  under  all  cii'cumstances 
of  health  or  sickness,  if  he  could  only  stir.  We  have 
frequently  seen  him  wending  his  weary  way  to  some 
chui'ch-meeting  when,  judging  from  his  looks,  he  ought 


libeeia's  offeeing.  147 

to  liave  been  in  bed.  And  we  bave  again  and  again 
seen  Ms  worn  and  feeble  form  in  the  scbool-room  bend- 
ing over  some  obtuse  intellect  striving  to  impart  an 
important  idea,  wben  be  seemed  to  be  in  tbe  last  stage 
of  debility.  And  no  entreaty  of  bis  friends,  no  admo- 
nition of  bis  pbysician  could  induce  bim  to  relax  bis 
labors  wbenever  be  felt  tbe  least  ability  to  engage  in 
tbem.  He  was  influenced  by  a  deep  conviction  tbat  be 
bad  a  great  deal  to  do  and  a  sbort  time  to  do  it  in.  In 
bis  indefatigable  exertions  to  serve  bis  day  and  genera- 
tion, be  bas  left  us  a  noble  example : 

"  Oh !  think  how,  to  his  latest  day, 
When  death,  just  hovering,  claimed  his  prey 
With  Palinure's  unaltered  mood, 
Firm  at  his  dangerous  post  he  stood  ; 
Each  call  for  needful  rest  repelled. 
With  dying  hand  the  rudder  held. 
Till,  in  his  fall,  with  fateful  sway. 
The  steerage  of  the  realm  gave  way." 

A  few  montbs  previous  to  bis  last  illness  be  seemed  to 
bave  conceived  a  presentiment  of  tbe  approacb  of  bis 
latter  end.  But  be  did  not  as  usual  express  any  desire 
to  live.  He  seemed  to  bave  no  fears  at  all  of  dying. 
He  viewed  deatb  and  spoke  of  bis  OMm  dissolution  witb 
perfect,  indifference  —  not,  indeed,  witb  tbe  indifference 
of  tbe  stoic,  but  witb  tbe  composure  and  um-uffled 
calmness  peculiar  to  tbe  Cbristian. 

On  Sunday,  tbe  sixtb  of  February,  be  came,  as  was 
bis  custom  wben  able  to  walk,  to  tbis  bouse,  wbere  a 
large  and  eager  congregation  was  anxiously  waiting  to 
bear  tbe  words  of  ^visdom  and  counsel  wbicb  were 
wont  to  fall  from  bis  lips.  He  conducted  tbe  prelimi- 
nary exercises  witb  bis  usual  ease  and  dignity ;  but, 
alas !  tbe  "  silver  cord  was  loosed,"  and  bis  audience 
knew  it  not.     Wben  be  arose  to  announce  bis  text,  be 


148  Liberia's  offering. 

was  seized  "witli  sucli  weakness  as  rendered  liiin  wholly 
unable  to  proceed.  Having  been  taken  home,  he  went 
to  bed,  but  from  that  bed  he  rose  no  more.  On  the 
fifteenth  of  February  his  spii'it  was  summoned  to  eter- 
nal realities.  The  last  assembly  he  met  on  earth  was 
an  assembly  of  God's  people,  with  whom  he  was  essay- 
ing to  worship.  In  a  few  days  after,  his  spirit  mingled 
with  that  illustrious  and  noble  army  of  martyi's  who 

"  shine 


With  robes  of  victory  through  the  skies." 

We  had  not  the  opportunity  of  being  at  his  bed-side 
immediately  before  his  death,  and  we  can  not  accurately 
give  you  his  dying  words.  But  we  know  that  it  was  a 
pri\T.lege  to  be  there,  for 

"  The  chamber  where  the  good  man  meets  his  fate 
Is  privileged  beyond  the  common  walks  of  life, 
Quite  on  the  verge  of  heaven." 

We  know  that  he  was  not  at  all  dismayed  as  he  stood, 
conscious  of  approaching  dissolution,  on  the  very  verge 
of  eternity.  Oh !  no.  But  over  its  dark  and  untrav- 
eled  vastness  he  cast  a  fearless  eye ;  and,  as  he  saw 
himself  hastening 

"  to  join 


The  innumerable  caravan  that  moves 
To  the  pale  realms  of  shade,  where  each  shall  take 
His  chamber  in  the  silent  halls  of  death, 
He  went  not  like  the  quarry  slave  at  night, 
Scourged  to  his  dungeon ;  but,  sustained  and  soothed 
By  an  unfaltering  trust,  approached  his  grave. 
Like  one  who  WTaps  the  drapery  of  his  couch 
About  him  and  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams." 

Mr.  Day  is  gone !  Never  more  mil  his  voice  be 
heard  within  these  walls.  Never  more  will  he  lift  up 
the  voice  of  wai'ning  to  the  impenitent  and  administer 


LIBERIA'S   OFFERING.  149 

encouragement  and  comfort  to  tlie  desponding  believei*. 
Never  more  will  lie  mingle  in  tlie  public  councils  of  tlie 
nation  and  assist,  by  his  presence  and  instruction,  in  tlie 
various  enterprises  of  popular  interest.  He  is  gone  — 
from  tlie  Cliurcli  and  state  !  Hear  it,  ye  aged  fathers  ! 
and  strive  to  do  witli  all  youi'  might  whatsoever  your 
hands  find  to  do.  Hear  it,  O  cheerful  youth  !  and  lay 
aside  your  trifling  hilarity,  and  think  of  the  responsi- 
bilities which  must  soon  fall  upon  you,  and  endeavor 
to  qualify  yourselves  for  theii'  assumption. 

While,  however,  the  death  of  Mr.  Day  has  occasioned 
an  iiTeparable  loss  to  Church  and  state,  we  do  not  feel 
to  entertain  unmino-led  emotions  of  sorrow.  He  has 
left  us  an  illustrious  example.  We  have  reasons  for 
congratulations  in  view  of  the  noble  instance  afforded 
for  the  contemplation  of  the  world,  the  encoui^agement 
of  the  Church,  and  the  emulation  of  the  rising  genera- 
tion, of  a  long  life  of  self-denial  and  usefulness  closed 
with  a  beautiful  serenity  —  a  dignified  calmness  and 
peace.  Such  a  life,  such  a  death,  constitute  a  legacy 
richer  than  the  silver  mines  of  Peru,  and  more  valuable- 
than  the  sparkling  deposits  of  Australia  or  California. 
Let  us  avail  om'selves  of  it. 

"  Lives  of  great  men  all  remind  us, 
We  can  make  om*  lives  sublime  ; 
And,  departing,  leave  behind  us 
Footprints  on  the  sand  of  time." 


A^  CHAPTER 


IN  THE 


HISTORY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  SLAVE-TRADE. 


^  mm\iUv  itt  i\iit  "§x$imj  mf  m  ^imm  Mvii-MxUt* 


"Qua  caret  ora  cruore  nostro?''' — Hor.  11  B.     Ode  I. 

The  great  ej^oclis  of  tlie  history,  whetlier  of  manMnd 
generally  or  of  one  particular  section  of  tlie  human 
race,  are  not  unusually  preceded  by  occurrences  more 
or  less  extraordinary.  These  occurrences,  cursorily 
viewed,  inspire  opinions  as  to  their  ultimate  results, 
which  subsequent  experience  and  the  development  of 
the  results  themselves  prove  to  have  been  entirely  erro- 
neous. And  often  what  would  seem  to  be  the  natural 
and  necessary  intei'pretation  of  the  tendency  of  any 
particular  train  of  events  is  discovered  to  be  as  wide 
from  the  truth  as  j)ossible.  Hence,  while  there  may 
be  formed  the  most  plausible  conjectures  as  to  the  true 
character  and  bearing*  of  any  given  cii'cumstance  or 
combination  of  circumstances,  the  uncertainty  of  re- 
sults necessarily  precludes  the  possibility  of  a  just 
appreciation  of  any  event  at  the  time  of  its  occurrence. 
The  hatred  which  we  learn  from  sacred  story  existed  in 
the  large  family  of  Jemsh  brothers  against  one  of  their 
number,  upon  whom  the  head  of  the  family  seemed  to 
lavish  all  the  affection  of  old  age,  the  bitterness  with 
which  they  persecuted  him,  and  the  unnatural  and 
cruel  indifference  with  which  they  consigned  him  to 
slavery,  were  cu'cumstances  which  seemed  to  justify  the 
anticipation  that  the  object  of  their  malignity  would 

*  Reprinted  from  the  Anylo-African  for  June,  1859. 


154  Liberia's  offerikg. 

suifer,  pine  away,  and  die  in  miserable  obscurity.  But 
his  bondage  was  the  means,  humanly  speaking,  of  intro- 
ducing him  to  a  position,  whence,  in  after-years  during 
a  period  of  pressing  exigency,  he  could  administer  to 
the  relief  and  deliverance  of  the  whole  family.  So 
before  the  permanent  establishment  of  the  nation  whom 
God  had  chosen  to  be  the  depositary  of  his  will  and 
to  preserve  a  knowledge  of  himself,  amid  the  general 
apostasy  of  mankind ;  whose  conservative  character 
was  to  influence  either  remotely  or  directly  other  por- 
tions of  the  human  family,  they  must  go  down  into 
Egypt,  and  there,  in  a  land  of  strangers,  be  afflicted 
"  four  hundred  years ;"  their  moral  and  intellectual 
powers  must  pass  under  the  withering  and  blighting 
influence  of  a  pernicious  bondage  ;  circumstances  which 
seemed  entirely  at  variance  with  the  preparation  re- 
quired by  a  people  destined  to  occupy  the  high  and 
important  position  which  the  Jews  afterwards  filled  in 
the  world.  So  also  when  there  was  to  be  established 
the  nation  whom  God  had  chosen  to  "  conquer  the 
world  and  subject  it  to  the  dominion  of  law,"  as  pre- 
paratory to  the  advent  of  the  "  Prince  of  Peace,"  one 
of  the  most  ancient  and  powerful  states  must  pass 
through  a  series  of  unprecedented  calamities,  and,  at 
length,  leveled  to  the  dust  by  the  "  unsparing  steel  and 
devouring  element,"  of  relentless  foes,  from  its  ashes 
must  spring  forth  the  germ  of  the  chosen  people — 
the  all-conquering  Romans. 

"  Res  Asiae  Priamique  evertere  gentem 


Immeritam  visum  Superis.* 

So,  again,  in  modern  times,  when  the  period  draws 
near  for  the  redemption  and  delivery  of  Africa  from  the 

*  Virgil's  uEneid.     B.  III.  1. 


Liberia's  offering.  155 

barbarism  and  degradation  of  unnumbered  years,  there 
must  take  place  circumstances  so  horrible  in  tlieir  char- 
acter, and  so  revolting  to  the  nobler  instincts  of  man 
as  to  find  few  disposed  to  recognize  in  them  the  hand 
of  a  supi^ne  and  merciful  Ruler. 

"  Sunt  lachrymae  rerum,  et  mentem  mortalia  tangunt." 

Almost  coeval  with  the  invention  of  printing  and 
the  discovery  of  America — two  great  eras  in  the  history 
of  human  improvement  —  was  the  beginning  of  the 
African  slave-trade.  As  soon  as  the  empire  of  Europe, 
following  the  guiding  "  star"  of  destiny,  began  to  move 
"westward,"  she  dragged  Afiica,  rather  tardy  in  the 
march  of  nations,  along  with  her  to  the  place  which 
seems  to  have  been  designed  for  the  rejuvenescence  of 
eastern  senility,  for  the  untrammeled  exercise  and 
healthful  gi'owth  of  the  principles  of  political  and 
ecclesiastical  liberty,  and  for  the  more  thorough  devel- 
opment of  man.  And  it  can  not  be  denied  that  the 
Afiicans  when  first  carried  to  the  Western  world  were 
benefited.  The  men  under  whose  tutelage  they  were 
taken  generally  regarded  them  as  a  solemn  charge  in- 
trusted to  their  care  by  Providence,  and  felt  bound  to 
instruct  them,  and  in  every  way  to  ameliorate  their 
condition.  They  were  not  only  indoctrinated  into  the 
principles  of  Christianity,  but  they  were  taught  the 
arts  and  sciences.  The  relation  of  the  European  to  the 
African  in  those  unsophisticated  times  was  that  of 
guardian  and  ^yrotege.  And  the  system,  if  slavery  it 
was,  bore  a  strong  resemblance  to  slavery  as  it  existed 
among  the  Romans,  in  the  earlier  periods  of  their  his- 
tory, when  the  "  slave  was  the  teacher,  the  artist,  the 
actor,  the  man  of  science,  the  physician."  Hence  many 
good  men,  in  view  of  the  benefits  which  they  saw  accrue 


156  Liberia's  offering. 

from  tlie  mild  and  generous  system,  embarked  their 
capital  in,  and  gave  their  influence  to,  the  enterprise  of 
transporting  negroes  from  Africa.  The  virulent  fea- 
tures of  the  trade  were  not  developed  until  the  enor- 
mous gains  which  were  found  to  result  from^e  toil  of 
the  African  and  the  consequent  demand  for  ms  labor, 
had  supplied  the  Western  continent  mth  hordes  of 
these  children  of  the  sun.  But  the  evils  of  the  sys- 
tem, though  horrifying  in  the  extreme,  were  not  re- 
garded of  suflicient  magnitude  to  arrest  the  importation 
of  slaves.  The  benefits  which  the  poor  heathen  re- 
ceived in  his  deportation  from  a  land  of  barbarism  to 
a  land  of  civilization  furnished  a  counterbalancing  argu- 
ment to  the  mind  of  those  benevolent  souls  who  were 
actively  engaged  in  the  trade  —  the  rapidity  and  ease 
with  which  they  were  enriching  their  coffers  was,  of 
course,  only  incidental  to  their  glorious  design  of  civil- 
izing poor,  benighted  Africa ! ! 

But  it  was  not  long  before  the  true  character  of  the 
traffic  began  unmistakably  to  discover  itself  Its  im- 
mense gains  brought  men  of  various  characters  into 
competition.  The  whole  western  coast  of  Africa  became 
the  haunt  of  the  slave-trader,  and  the  scene  of  unutter- 
able cruelties  as  the  result  of  their  oj^erations.  The 
more  powerful  native  chiefs,  im23elled  by  those  sordid 
and  cruel  feelings  which,  in  the  absence  of  higher  mo- 
tives, actuate  men,  made  war  upon  their  weaker  neigh- 
bors in  order  to  capture  prisoners  to  supply  the  demand 
of  the  traders  ;  and  a  state  of  things  was  induced  which 
awakened  the  commiseration  and  called  forth  the  re- 
monstrances of  the  thoughtful  and  philanthropic  in 
Christian  lands.  Wilberforce,  Granville  Sharp,  and 
others,  ably  exhibited  before  the  British  public  the 
horrible  effects  of  the  trade  ;  pointed  out  its  disastrous 


LIBEKIA's  OFFEEIXG.  157 

influence  upon  tlie  peaceful  communities  of  Africa ; 
sliowed  its  agency  in  tlie  disintegration  of  Afi'ican  soci- 
ety, and  in  tlie  feuds  and  guerrillas  wliich.  distracted  tlie . 
African  coast ;  discovered  it  as  depopulating  tlie  conti- 
nent, and  giving  rise  to  multifarious  and  indescribable 
evils  ;  and  proposed  as  a  remedy  tlie  immediate  aboli- 
tion of  the  traffic.  In  1792  Mr.  H.  Thornton,  Chair- 
man of  the  Sierra  Leone  Company,  said,  in  the  course 
of  a  discussion  consequent  upon  a  motion  made  by  Mr. 
Wilberforce  for  the  abolition  of  the  slave-trade :  "  It 
had  obtained  the  name  of  a  trade',  and  many  had 
been  deceived  by  the  apj^ellation ;  but  it  was  a  war, 
not  a  trade ;  it  was  a  onass  of  crimes^  and  not  com- 
merce;  it  alone  prevented  the  introduction  of  trade 
into  Africa.  It  created  more  embaiTassments  than  all 
the  natural  impediments  of  the  country,  and  was  more 
hard  to  contend  with  than  any  difficulties  of  climate, 
soil,  or  natural  dispositions  of  the  people."  The  slave- 
traders  by  pampering  their  cupidity  had  so  ingratiated 
themselves  with  the  native  rulers  of  the  country,  and 
had  acquired  such  an  influence  on  the  coast,  that 
nothing  could  be  suffered  which  would  at  all  interfere 
with  the  activity  of  the  trade.  The  establishment  of 
any  settlement  or  colony  opposed  to  the  traffic  was  of 
course  out  of  the  question. 

The  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  when  ex]3eri- 
ence  had  proved  the  traffic  to  be  at  variance  with  the 
laws  of  God  and  an  outrage  upon  humanity,  witnessed 
the  inaugui'ation  of  vigorous  efforts  on  the  part  of  the 
philanthropists  in  England  for  the  destruction  of  its 
legality.  Mr.  Wilberforce,  having  introduced  the  mo- 
tion in  Parliament  "  that  the  trade  carried  on  by  Brit- 
ish subjects  for  the  piu^pose  of  obtaining  slaves  on  the 
African  coast  ought  to  be  abolished,"  the  friends  of  the 


158  Liberia's  offering. 

motion  ceased  not  in  tlieir  efforts  until  on  the  tenth  of 
February,  1807,  a  committee  of  the  whole  House  passed 
a  bill  ""  that  no  vessel  should  clear  out  for  slaves  from 
any  port  within  the  British  dominions  after  May  1, 
1807,"  fifteen  years  after  the  introduction  of  Mr.  Wil- 
berforce's  motion.  The  legality  of  the  traffic  being 
thus  overthrown  by  England,  and  by  other  nations  fol- 
lowing in  her  wake,  the  horrors  of  the  traffic  manifestly 
declined,  and  honorable  commerce  could  again  be  pros- 
ecuted with  some  measure  of  safety. 

The  temporary  immunity  of  the  coast  from  the  hor- 
rors attendant  upon  the  slave-trade,  occasioned  by  the 
passage  of  the  British  "  Abolition  Act,"  furnished  an 
opportunity  to  certain  philanthropists  in  America  to 
carry  out  an  idea  which  had  originated  yeai-s  previous- 
ly, of  planting  on  the  west  coast  of  Africa  a  colony  of 
civilized  Africans,  but  which  had  seemed  impracticable 
in  consequence  of  the  unlimited  and  pernicious  sway 
which  the  slavers  held  on  the  coast.  In  the  year  1816 
a  Society  was  instituted  under  the  denomination  of  the 
"American  Colonization  Society,"  for  the  purpose  of 
colonizing  in  Africa,  with  their  own  consent,  fi'ee  ]3er- 
sons  of  color  of  the  United  States.  In  1820,  the  neces- 
sary preparations  having  been  made,  the  ship  Eliza- 
beth sailed  from  the  United  States  with  a  company  of 
eighty-eight  emigrants  for  the  west  coast  of  Africa. 
After  various  trials  and  difficulties  they  landed  on  Cape 
Monserrado  and  succeeded  in  establishing  themselves. 
But  scarcely  had  they  intrenched  themselves  when  the 
slavers,  a  few  of  whom  still  hovered  on  the  coast  and 
had  factories  in  the  vicinity  of  Monserrado,  began  to 
manifest  their  hostility  to  the  settlers,  endeavoring  in 
every  possible  way  to  break  up  the  settlement ;  while 
the  aboriginal  neighbors  of  the  colonists,  finding  that 


libekia's  offeeing.  159 

tlie  presence  of  tlie  colony  was  diniimsliing  very  con- 
siderably their  gains  from  the  unhallowed  trade,  in- 
dulged a  lurking  enmity  which  only  awaited  opportu- 
nity to  develop  itself.  But  the  opportunity  was  not 
long  in  offering,  for  the  colony  was  hardly  two  years 
old  when  it  was  desperately  assailed  by  untold  num- 
bers of  savages  who  came  down  in  wild  ferocity  upon 
the  feeble  and  defenseless  company,  and  must  have 
swept  away  every  trace  of  them  had  not  a  merciful 
Providence  vouchsafed  deliverance  to  the  weak.  The 
settlers  triumj)hed  against  overwhelming  odds. 

The  slave-traders,  notwithstanding  the  signal  defeat 
of  their  native  allies  in  the  traffic,  were  not  \^dlling  to 
abandon  a  scene  which  for  scores  of  years  they  had 
unmolestedly  and  profitably  infested.  They  still  lin- 
gered about  the  settlement.  "  From  eight  to  ten,  and 
even  fifteen  vessels  were  engaged  at  the  same  time  in 
this  odious  traffic  almost  under  the  guns  of  the  settle- 
ment ;  and  in  July  of  the  same  year,  (1825,)  contracts 
were  existino;  for  eio-ht  hundred  slaves  to  be  furnished 
in  the  short  space  of  four  months,  within  eight  miles  of 
the  Cape.  Four  hundred  of  these  were  to  be  purchased 
for  two  American  traders.'*  Dming  the  same  year  Mr. 
Ashmun,  agent  of  the  American  Colonization  Society, 
wrote  to  the  Society ;  "  The  colony  only  wants  the 
right ;  it  has  the  power  to  expel  this  traffic  to  a  dis- 
tance, and  force  it  at  least  to  conceal  some  of  its  worst 
enormities."  From  this  time  the  Society  began  to  take 
into  consideration  the  importance  of  enlarging  the  ter- 
ritory of  the  colony,  and  thus  including  within  its 
jurisdiction  several  tribes,  in  order  both  to  protect  the 
settlement  against  the  evil  of  too  great  proximity  to 
slave-factories  and  to  place  it  within  the  competency  of 

*  Gurley'a  Life  of  Ashmxin,  page  261. 


160  Liberia's  offering. 

the  colonial  autliorities  to  "  expel  tlie  traffic  to  a  dis- 
tance." But  even  after  tlie  limits  of  tlie  colony  had 
been  greatly  extended  and  several  large  tribes  brought 
under  its  jurisdiction,  the  slavers  v^ould  every  now  and 
then  attempt  to  renew  their  old  friendships,  and  fre- 
quently occasioned  not  a  little  trouble  to  the  colonists 
by  exciting  the  natives  to  insubordination  and  hostility 
to  a  colony  which,  as  they  alleged,  (being  instructed  so 
to  think  by  the  slavers,)  "  was  spoiling  their  country 
and  breaking  up  their  lucrative  trade." 

The  feelino;s  of  some  of  the  natives  who  had  surren- 
dered  themselves  to  Liberian  authority,  became,  under 
the  guidance  of  the  "  marauding  outlaws,"  so  embit- 
tered against  the  colony  that  they  more  than  once 
boldly  avowed  their  hostile  sentiments,  and  professed 
utter  indifference  to  the  laws  of  Liberia.  This,  together 
with  the  fact  that  every  once  in  a  while  slavers  would 
locate  themselves,  erect  baiTacoons  and  purchase  slaves 
on  Liberian  territory  under  the  countenance  and  pro- 
tection of  aboriginal  chiefs,  rendered  several  wars  (?) 
against  the  latter  necessary  in  order  to  convince  them 
that  Liberians  had  power  to  compel  them  to  obedi- 
ence. The  last  war  of  this  character  was  "  carried  "  to 
New-Cess  in  1849,  immediately  after  the  independence 
of  Liberia  had  been  recognized  by  England  and  France. 
The  condign  punishment  inflicted  upon  the  slavers  by 
that  military  exj^edition,  the  regular  cruising  of  the 
Liberian  government  schooner  Lark,  and  the  scattering 
of  settlements  at  various  jDoints,  have  entirely  driven 
away  the  slavers  from  the  Liberian  coast.  The  country 
in  consequence  has  enjoyed  a  grateful  repose,  and  the 
peoj^le  have  been  peaceably  prosecuting  a  legitimate 
traffic  both  with  Liberians  and  foreigners. 

But  latterly  a  new  element  of  discord  has  been  intro- 


Liberia's  offering.  161 

diiced  on  tlie  Liberian  coast,  tlie  Frencli  emigration  sys- 
tem. French  vessels  visit  tlie  coast  for  tlie  ostensible 
olyject  of  employing  laborers  for  tlie  Frencli  colonies. 
Of  course  it  is  understood  or  presumed  that  all  emi- 
grants embarking  on  board  of  tliese  vessels  do  so  of 
tlieir  own  accord ;  if  so,  tlie  trade  is  as  lawful  as  any 
other  emigration  trade.  But  it  must  be  borne  in  mind 
that  the  aborigines  are  not  settled  along  the  coast  in  in- 
dependent rej)ublican  communities.  They  are  under 
the  most  despotic  rule ;  the  king  or  head-man  having 
absolute  control  over  his  subjects  or  "  boys."  All  the 
employer  of  emigrants  has  to  do,  then,  is  to  offer,  which 
he  does,  liberal  conditions  to  the  chiefs  for  the  number 
of  laborers  required.  The  chiefs  immediately  send 
around  and  compel  their  boys  to  come,  or  if  they  have 
not  a  sufficient  number  of  their  own  peo2:)le  to  answer 
the  demand,  predatory  excursions  are  made,  in  which 
they  kidnap  the  weak  and  unsus|)ecting,  or  a  pretext  is 
assumed  for  a  war  -with  a  neighboring  tribe ;  cruelty, 
bloodshed,  carnage  ensue ;  prisoners  are  taken,  driven 
down  to  the  beach  and  handed  over  to  the  captain  of 
the  emigrant  ship,  whose  business  being  to  employ  all 
the  laborers  he  can  get,  does  not  stop  to  inquire  as  to 
the  method  adoj)ted  for  obtaining  these  persons.  The 
result  is,  a  state  of  things  as  revolting  as  that  occasioned 
by  the  slave-trade  in  its  most  flourishing  period.  The 
bond  which  it  was  hoped  Liberia  had  formed  for  the 
linking  together  of  tribe  to  tribe  in  harmonious  inter- 
course arid  mutual  dependence,  is  thus  being  rudely 
snapped  asunder.  The  natives,  according  to  complaints 
made  by  some  of  them  to  the  Liberian  government,  are 
being  agitated  with  reciprocal  fears  and  jealousies,  their 
lives  and  property  are  in  danger,  and  a  check  is  imposed 
upon  all  theii*  industrious  efforts. 
11 


162  Liberia's  offering. 

An  occiirreiice,  however,  sad  indeed,  bnt  no  douLt 
providential,  lias  recently  taken  place  on  tlie  Liberian 
coast,  wliicli  lias  clearly  developed  tlie  character  of  the 
system,  and  which  A\dll,  in  all  probability,  aiTest  its 
deleterious  inflnences.  In  the  early  pai't  of  April  last 
(1858)  the  Regiua  Coeli,  a  French  ship  engaged  in 
the  enlistment  of  laborers,  as  above  stated,  was  laying 
at  anchor  off  Manna,  a  trading  port  a  few  leagues  north- 
west of  Monrovia,  mth  two  or  three  hundred  emigrants 
on  board,  among  whom,  in  consequence  of  some  of  their 
number  being  manacled,  considerable  dissatisfaction 
prevailed.-  During  the  absence  of  the  captain  and  one 
of  the  officers,  a  quarrel  broke  out  between  the  cook 
and  one  of  the  emigrants.  The  cook  struck  the  emi. 
grant,  the  latter  retaliated,  when  a  scuffle  ensued,  in 
which  other  emigrants  took  part.  This  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  rest  of  the  crew,  who  coming  to  the  as- 
sistance of  the  cook,  violently  beat  the  emigrants,  kill- 
ing several  of  them.  By  this  time,  those  emigrants  who 
had  been  confined  below  were  unshackled,  and  joining 
in  the  fracas  killed  in  retaliation  all  the  crew,  save 
one  man  who  fled  aloft  and  protested  most  earnestly  his 
freedom  from  any  participation  in  the  matter.  The 
emigrants,  recognizing  his  innocence,  spared  his  life,  l)ut 
ordered  him  ashore  forthmth,  which  order  he  readily 
obeyed. 

The  sur^d\dng  emigrants  having  sole  charge  of  the 
vessel,  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  captain  to  dispatch 
him  as  soon  as  he  touched  the  deck.  But  he,  learning 
theii'  design,  did  not  ventui'e  on  board,  l)ut  sought  and 
obtained  aid  from  the  Liberian  authorities  at  Cape 
Mount  to  keep  the  exasperated  savages  from  stranding 
his  vessel.  The  unfortunate  ship  was  subsequently  res- 
cued by  an  English  mail  steamer,  and  towed  into  Mon- 
serrado  Roads. 


Liberia's  offering.  163 

One  veiy  impoi-tant  result  lias  accrued  from  tliis  sad 
occiuTence,  and  tliat  is  the  one  akeady  referred  to — ^the 
development  of  the  ruinous  influence  of  the  French  emi- 
gration system  upon  the  natives  from  among  whom  the 
laborers,  are  taken.  There  have  existed  apprehensions 
on  the  j)art  of  the  Liberian  government  that  the  emi- 
gration was  constrained ;  but  having  received  official 
information  and  assm^ance  that  the  system  enjoyed  the 
countenance  and  patronage  of  the  French  government, 
and  that  the  traders  were  under  the  immediate  surveil- 
lance of  French  officials,  it  could  not  depreciate  the 
honesty  and  good  intentions  of  that  renowned  and  mag- 
nanimous nation. 

Nearly  coincident  with  the  above  cii'cumstance,  and, 
perhaps,  in  some  measure  the  result  of  it,  was  another 
of  a  similar  character,  in  the  interior  of  Liberia.  One 
or  two  native  chiefs,  it  appears,  had  collected  a  number 
of  persons  and  were  conveying  them,  manacled,  to  the 
coast  for  the  pm'pose  of  supplying  the  emigrant  vessels. 
On  theii'  way  they  stopped,  with  their  human  load,  to 
j^ass  the  night  at  a  native  town.  Dming  the  night, 
one  of  the  caj^tives  having  worked  himself  loose,  untied 
the  others,  when  a  revolt  ensued  in  which  the  j)risoners 
killed  theii'  kidnappers  and  made  theii'  escape. 

It  is  a  matter  of  profound  regret  that  such  should  be 
the  concomitants  of  a  system  which  was  doubtless  de- 
signed by  the  French  government  for  the  benefit  of  the 
African  race,  and  which,  if  judiciously  carried  out,  ac- 
cording to  its  original  intention,  would  probably  result 
in  the  downfall  of  American  slavery.  A  French  periodi- 
cal published  in  Paris,  states  the  view  taken  of  the  sys- 
tem by  French  philanthropists  as  follows  : 

"  La  France,  en  agissant  comme  elle  le  fait,  ne  travaille  pas  seulement 
pour  la  fortune  des  deux  iles  qui  lui  restent  dans  I'archipel  des  petites 


164  Liberia's  offering. 

Antilles  ;  clle  a,  il  est  vrai,  a  peupler  aussi,  dans  le  cercle  plus  special  des 
interets  nationaux,  la  Guj'ane  fran^aisc  ct  TAlgcrie;  mais  elle  a  surtout 
la  mission  do  protegcr  de  son  pavilion  et  de  couronner  de  son  aureole  mor- 
ale une  ceuvre  essentiellement  humanitaire,  dont  la  double  consequence 
doit  etre,  d'extirpcr  I'esclavage  de  deux  continents  a  la  fois,  de  I'Afrique 
et  de  I'Amerique."* 

If  tlie  emigration  system  could  be  carried  on  "^dtliout 
iiiTolving  tlie  coast  in  such  fearful  distractions,  it  would, 
we  are  inclined  to  believe,  fiirnisli  before  long  a  fair  and 
satisfactory  solution  of  the  problem  respecting  the  com. 
parative  productiveness  of  slave  and  free  labor.  There 
would  be  fiu'iiished  in  Guiana  and  other  French  colo- 
nies, to  which  these  emigrants  are  taken,  an  example  of 
vast  tropical  regions  extensively  and  j^rofitably  culti- 
vated by  hordes  of  free  native  Africans.  But  so  long 
as  the  system  bears  a  compulsory  character,  the  results 
to  Africa  of  the  efforts  of  those  engaged  in  it,  can  not 
fail  to  be  disastrous.  And  no  intercoui'se  of  foreigners 
with  the  natives,  in  the  vicinity  of  Libeiia  and  Sierra 
Leone,  containing  in  it  any  element  of  the  slave-trade, 
will  be  long  endured.  Through  the  influence  of  these 
civilized  and  Christian  colonies,  the  natives  far  and  near 
have  been  taus:ht  the  sacredness  of  human  rio-hts. 
They  will  not  easily  and  silently  submit  to  enslavement, 
if  there  is  the  least  chance  of  successful  resistance. 
From  Sierra  Leone  to  Bereby,  a  distance  of  about  seven 
hundi'ed  miles  of  coast,  with  an  interior  of  about  one 
hundi'ed  and  fifty  miles,  and  a  population  of  about 
eight  hundred  thousand  souls,  the  natives  have  caught 
the  insj^iration  of  the  Genius  of  universal  Freedoni, 
and  they  too  sing — 

"  Hereditary  bondmen,  know  j'e  not, 
That  they  who  would  be  free,  themselves  must  strike  the  blow !" 

In  a  great  part  of  this  region,  what  is  an  unmistaka- 

*  Annales  cCA/riqtie,  Mars  et  Avril,  1858. 


Liberia's  offering.  165 

ble  indication  tliat  tlie  natives  liave  permanently  aban- 
doned tlie  slave-trade,  is  tlie  absence  of  barricaded 
towns,  wliicli  formerly,  wlien  tlie  trade  was  rife,  were 
indispensable  to  tlieii'  protection  from  tlie  slave-linnters. 
And  these  sentiments  of  freedom  are  spreading  them- 
selves far  and  wide,  into  the  equatorial  regions  of  Afri- 
ca. Besides  the  influence  which  the  missionaries  scat- 
tered along  the  coast  for  about  two  thousand  miles,  are 
exerting,  "  a  commencement  has  been  made  of  home  mi- 
gration of  liberated  Africans,  from  Sierra  Leone  into 
the  Yoruba  country."  These  peoj^le  having  received 
an  education  under  the  oj)6ration  of  the  fi^ee  principles 
of  English  law,  and  having  accumulated  a  little  proper- 
ty, are  returning  home  deeply  imbued  with  a  sense  of 
the  wrong  and  injustice  of  the  slave-trade,  and  are  form- 
ing settlements  on  civilized  and  Christian  principles. 
The  ardent  and  enlightened  love  of  liberty,  which  has 
been  engendered  among  them,  under  the  teachings  of 
those  friends  of  the  African,  will  render  them  anxious 
not  only  to  reduce  to  j)ractice,  but  widely  to  dissemi- 
nate those  lessons  of  personal  and  political  liberty. 
And  it  may  reasonably  be  hoped,  that  they  will  soon 
so  generally  diffuse  their  j^rincij^les  among  the  natives 
of  those  regions,  so  develop  and  strengthen  among  the 
masses  the  love- of  freedom,  as  to  render  those  chiefs 
who  favor  the  slave-trade,  unpopular  among  their  peo- 
ple, as  all  such  miscreants  are  becoming  in  the  vicinity 
of  Liberia. 

The  unusual  rush  recently  made  by  slavers  to  certain 
portions  of  the  equatorial  coast,  have  called  for  vigorous 
action  on  the  part  of  the  British  squadi'on,  which  has 
resulted  in  the  capture  of  several  notorious  slavers. 
The  American  squadron,  which  has  hitherto  not  been 
as  efficient  as  desirable,  is  now  on  the  alert.     Measures 


166  Liberia's  offering. 

are  taking,  we  understand,  to  increase  tlie  efficiency  of 
this  squadron.  From  tlie  cooj^eration  of  tlie  two  squad- 
rons, niucli  good  may  be  exj^ected,  or  ratlier  we  may 
look  for  the  prevention  of  much  evil. 

But  while  the  odious  traffic  is  recei\dn2:  its  deatli- 
wounds  on  the  coast,  we  hear  of  a  determination  on  the 
part  of  some  in  North- America  to  resuscitate  it.     Upon 
almost  every  wind  that  sweeps  from  the  United  States 
do  we  receive  indications  of  a  disposition  in  certain  sec- 
tions of  that  country  to  commence  the  im2:»ortation  of 
slaves  into  the  Southern  States.     In  the  rej^orts  of  Con- 
gress and  State  Legislatures,  in  the  public  news^^ajoers, 
in  the  sermons  of  eminent  divines,  in  private  letters,  we 
have  the  same  admonition.     One  may  aspectu  ])rimo  be 
somewhat  sm'j^rised  to  find  such  a  feeling  existing  in  a 
land,  which  in  point  of  intellectual  and  moral  light,  is 
among  the  most  favored  in  the  world.     But  when  it  is 
considered  that  we  have  fallen  upon  times  when  "  the 
lust  of  gain  is  the  sole  impulse  of  human  activity,  and 
almost  the  only  iunj)ii'e  of  human  life,"  when  intellect 
has  become  the  slave  of  avarice,  though  proclaiming 
its  incontestable  dominion  over  the  universe,  we  can 
hardly  wonder.     It  is  by  no  means  surj^rising  that  there 
should  be  such  a  failure  on  the  part  of  those  votaries  of 
slavery  and  the  slave-trade,  in  the  land,  of  light,  to  dis- 
cover that  flagrant  wrong  and  enormous  guilt  involved 
in  theii'  favorite  pursuit ;  for,  besides  the  strenuous  ef 
forts  which  they  make  to  believe  and  to  disseminate 
the  dogma  that  "  the  black  man  has  no  ri^-hts  which 
white  men  are  bound  to  respect,"  theu*  indisposition  to 
work  "with  their  o^vn  hands,  and  the  prodigious  gains 
which  accrue  to  them  from  the  um^ecompensed  toil  of 
the  Negro,  have  erected  an  insminountable  and  impene- 
trable barrier  between  them  and  Right.     "  I  can  never 


Liberia's  offeeing.  167 

cease  to  be  most  unfeignecUy  tliankfiil,"  says  Dr.  Liv- 
ingstone, "  tliat  I  was  not  born  in  a  land  of  slaves.  No 
one  can  understand  tlie  effect  of  tlie  unutterable  mean- 
ness of  tlie  slave  system  on  tlie  minds  of  tliose  wlio,  but 
for  tlie  strange  obliquity  wliicli  prevents  tliem  from 
feeling  the  degradation  of  not  being  gentlemen  enougli 
to  pay  for  services  rendered,  would  be  equal  in  vii'tue 
to  om'selves.  Fraud  becomes  as  natm'al  to  them  as 
'  paying  one's  way '  is  to  the  rest  of  mankind."^ 

But  we  are  rather  encouraged  than  otherwise  by  the 
noisy  boasting  of  the  pro-slavery  zealots.  We  regard 
it,  all  things  considered,  as  a  favorable  auguiy.  It  is 
our  deliberate  opinion  that,  if  the  real  feelings  of  some 
of  the  loudest  defenders  of  slavery  were  known,  we 
should  find  them  briefly  but  truly  expressed  in  the  sig- 
nificant device :  "  Le  passe  me  tom-mente,  et  je  crains 
I'avenir." 

The  days  of  giant  oj^pression  are  nmnbered  and  he 
knows  it.  His  hideous  and  menacing  roars  are  only  ac- 
companiments of  his  dying  paroxysms.  While  Ave  must 
admit  that  the  "  gnashing  of  his  teeth,"  and  his  "  hor- 
rible grins,"  are  indications  of  what  he  would  do  under 
more  favorable  circumstances,  yet,  knowing  as  we  do, 
the  march  of  events  in  the  current  history  of  the  world, 
we  can  not  but  regard  it  as  a  sign  of  supervening  ener- 
vation and  overwhelmino;  overthrow. 

*  Livingstone's  3Iiss.  Travels,  etc.,  in  South-Africa,  p.  30. 


/ 


Photomount 

Pamphlet 

Binder 

Gaylord  Bros.,  Inc. 

Makers 
Syracuse,  N.  V, 

PAT.  JAN  2I,190« 


V 


DATE  DUE 


